José de Mello Group wins 2024 IMD Global Family Business Award

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.

IMD