Antonio Ermirio de Moraes

Antônio Ermírio de Moraes was a Brazilian billionaire businessman and philanthropist who led the Votorantim Group, one of the largest and most diversified industrial conglomerates in Latin America. He was born in São Paulo, Brazil, in 1928, as the son of José Ermírio de Moraes, a Portuguese immigrant who founded the company in 1918. Antônio graduated as an engineer from the Colorado School of Mines in the United States and joined the family business in 1951. He became the chairman and CEO of the group in 1973 and expanded its operations in various sectors, such as cement, steel, aluminum, pulp, paper, energy, and orange juice. He also invested in banking, mining, and telecommunications. Under his leadership, the Votorantim Group became one of the most successful and respected companies in Brazil, with more than 40,000 employees and operations in 20 countries. Antônio was also a prominent philanthropist and social activist. He was the president of the Beneficência Portuguesa Hospital, a large and charitable health institution in São Paulo, where he donated millions of dollars and helped to provide quality care for low-income patients. He also supported education, culture, and sports initiatives, such as the Votorantim Institute, the Votorantim Cultural Foundation, and the Votorantim Sports Club. He was a member of the Brazilian Academy of Letters and wrote several plays and books. He ran for governor of São Paulo State in 1986, but lost the election. He was a vocal critic of corruption, bureaucracy, and inefficiency in the Brazilian political system and advocated for democracy, social justice, and economic development. He was widely admired and respected by his peers, employees, and the public for his vision, integrity, and generosity. He died of heart failure in 2014, at the age of 86, leaving behind his wife, nine children, and 25 grandchildren. He was succeeded by his children in the management of the Votorantim Group.