José de Mello Group, one of Portugal’s oldest and most successful family-run firms, has been selected as the winner of the 2024 IMD Global Family Business Award. An independent award jury of family business experts and previous award winners praised the Group for its resilient family, business, and ownership.
“The IMD Global Family Business Award has been celebrating excellence in a key economic constituency around the world for almost three decades,” said David Bach, President of IMD. “It is fitting, then, for an important and successful company such as the José de Mello Group to win the award. My congratulations to them and my colleagues in the Global Family Business Center.”
Peter Vogel, Director of the IMD Global Family Business Center, said: “The José de Mello Group has proven its resilience and adaptability in the face of uncertainty and has established an exceptional system both in terms of family governance and ownership governance – a key to ensuring the family’s long-term vision and building resilience. It has also developed dedicated initiatives to foster entrepreneurship and innovation, as it continues to shape the business landscape in Portugal and beyond.”
Next-generation development
Managed by multiple family members in executive roles and in the holding company, the Group puts a great amount of effort into building an inclusive family governance system. The jury was especially impressed by the focus on next-generation development and how closely the family is involved in supporting next-generation career decisions and job opportunities.
“This award is an honor that recognizes a persistent and consistent entrepreneurial journey, started by my great-grandfather Alfredo da Silva and rebuilt by my father José Manuel de Mello, who instilled in our family the desire to remain united and committed to our purpose. It is also a tribute to my siblings and to all the people who work at the José de Mello Group, to whom I express my gratitude for keeping our corporate culture alive and for being examples of competence, human development, innovation, and integrity,” said Salvador de Mello, CEO of José de Mello Group.
The José de Mello Group includes Bondalti, the largest Portuguese producer in the chemical sector and a worldwide reference, Brisa Group, the largest highway operator in Portugal, CUF, the largest private healthcare provider in Portugal with over a million clients, and Winestone, which manages Portuguese wine assets across 30 markets.
Tradition and innovation
“We are delighted to see José de Mello Group winning this year’s edition of the IMD Global Family Business Award and celebrate them during the 33rd FBN Global Summit in Tokyo,” says Alexis du Roy de Blicquy, CEO of FBN (Family Business Network).
“This year at FBN, we have taken an in-depth look at ownership strategies and how business families combine tradition and innovation to ensure longevity. José de Mello Group has demonstrated great resilience and entrepreneurship, been committed to their local community, demonstrated strong values over more than a century, and built a robust governance architecture to be future-proof for the next phase of their development. They exemplify the values of the FBN community – by families, for families, together across generations.”
Best-in-class family businesses
The prestigious IMD award, which has been recognizing and showcasing the work of best-in-class family businesses since 1996, provides a neutral platform for the analysis of the evolving and vital role of family-owned enterprises in the global economy as well as the exchange of best practices to drive enhancements in the field.
Swiss watch and jewelry maker Chopard has crafted the award trophy since 1999, in the shape of a tree symbolizing family values – from solid roots to new branches growing from a common trunk, representing successive generations.
The Family Business Network hosts the annual award ceremony at its annual Global Summit. This year’s 33rd edition of the summit is taking place in Tokyo, Japan.
