Américo Ferreira de Amorim was born on 21 July 1934 in Mozelos, in the municipality of Santa Maria da Feira, and went on to become one of the greatest Portuguese businessmen of all time. Passionate about geography, an excellent cultivator of diplomatic relations and a rare talent for business, at the age of 19 he began transforming the cork stopper factory founded in 1870 by his grandfather, António Alves de Amorim, into the world's largest cork processing group. The career of a remarkable entrepreneur who, after graduating from the General Commerce Course at the Academic School in Porto, would overcome various industrial constraints, several economic crises, different political regimes, countless territorial barriers and a few revolutions both inside and outside the country.
A personality marked by boldness and pragmatism, in which travelling, contact with different cultures and living in different countries in a context of political change played a central role. In fact, it was on his first trip to Europe in 1955, accompanied by his brothers José, António and Joaquim, the great companions of a life full of triumphs, that the young Américo Amorim reinforced his belief in a liberalised economy, free of blockades and on a global scale. The building of the world's largest cork processing group began.
A preambular resolution was taken in 1963 with the creation of Corticeira Amorim. Once the first stone was laid in this building of vertical growth, Américo Amorim led with inexhaustible energy the opening of an insulation unit in Silves (Corticeira Amorim Algarve - 1967), the establishment of a flooring unit (IPOCORK - 1978) and the foundation of a cork stopper unit for sparkling wines (Champcork - 1983). Internally, it also oversaw the construction of two raw material preparation plants (Ponte de Sor and Coruche).
A bold growth programme which, to support Américo Amorim's valid aspirations of success beyond his borders, would also be anchored by the company going public in 1988. Investments followed at a frenetic pace: Amorim Cork America, Amorim France, Víctor & Amorim in Spain, Amorim Cork Australasia, Indústria Corchera in Chile, Carl Ed. Meyer (now Amorim Deutschland) in Germany, Global Technology Systems (now Amorim Cork Composites Trevor) in the USA, among many others. Corticeira Amorim companies were committed to Research & Development, and shared values emerged, reinforcing the collective culture of pride, attitude, ambition, initiative and sobriety. These were foundations to which Américo Amorim added vision and boldness, conviction and firmness, transcribed in one of his famous sayings: ‘If it were possible, I would build a factory every day.’Américo Amorim led Corticeira Amorim for decades, pioneering the professionalisation, modernisation, innovation and sustainability of both Corticeira Amorim and the entire cork sector. Like no one else, he was able to bring together the skills, merits and complementary know-how of his brothers José (forestry and procurement), António (industrial management and social responsibility) and Joaquim (external relations).
At the same time, while building the world's largest cork processing group, Américo Amorim was diversifying his interests and investments. Banking (founding of the first private Portuguese bank - BCP), telecommunications (winning consortium of the first private mobile telecommunications operator in Portugal - Telecel), tourism and leisure (joint venture with the French group ACCOR, the world's largest hotel operator; acquisition of Sociedade Figueira Praia, S.A., acquisition of a qualified stake in Estoril-Sol, S.G.P.S., S.A.), real estate (creation of Amorim Empreendimentos Imobiliários), energy (integrates Finpetro - a consortium of investors for the acquisition of Petrogal - Petróleos de Portugal) and wines (purchase of Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo) would be just some of the areas targeted by Américo Amorim's diligent attention. An economic conglomerate that would make its way into the private sphere of the businessman who would enter the capital of Galp, Banco Popular Espanhol, Tom Ford International, etc.
Described by Forbes magazine in 1992 as ‘the King of Cork’, Américo Amorim was the first Portuguese to be awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the Board of Trustees of St. John's University in New York. António Ramalho Eanes, at the government's proposal, presented him with the Order of Agricultural and Industrial Merit, in the class of Industrial Merit. The role of Honorary Consul General of Hungary in Portugal was another role he performed with his usual vigour.
Américo Amorim prevails in Portuguese history as one of the most important personalities, as an entrepreneur and wealth creator. A man of rigour, ethics and morals. He was able to see beyond the immediate, proved to be ahead of his time and constantly created bridges to the future.
A loving husband, present father and proud grandfather, Américo Amorim married Maria Fernanda Amorim. They had three daughters, Paula, Marta and Luísa, and his delight was his grandchildren, to whom he never denied a broad smile. Américo Amorim passed away on 13 July 2017.
Today, on the 90th anniversary of his birth, we recognise and are proud of the legacy we received from Américo Amorim and continue, with the same feeling and sense of responsibility, to carry on and develop the legacy and, in this way, honour the memory of Américo Amorim.
‘We are what we do consistently. So excellence is not an act, but a habit.’
Américo Amorim (1934-2017)
