Heraldo de Madrid - Paulo Duarte Group Appoints Fábio Santos to Strengthen Leadership Amid Expansion

The Paulo Duarte Group has appointed Fábio Santos to its administration board, a move designed to strengthen leadership capacity and operational efficiency as the company consolidates its growth in Portugal and Spain.

Headquartered in Ota, Alenquer, the Iberian logistics operator described Santos as a key figure for coordinating its diverse business areas. His responsibilities include evolving management models with a focus on organizational and operational efficiency.

Santos joins the group after leading the transport division at Sonae until 2025, where he gained experience in operations within the large consumer goods sector. He also serves as a professor of Financial Management at Nova School of Business & Economics (Nova SBE), combining practical business experience with academic knowledge.

Gustavo Paulo Duarte, co-CEO of the group, stated that the organization has reached a scale and operational capacity that present new management challenges. He emphasized the priority of maximizing the benefits of their built scale and specialization by reinforcing resource efficiency and competitiveness.

"The appointment of Fábio Santos responds to this ambition," Gustavo Paulo Duarte said. "We are strengthening not only our leadership structure but also the ability to execute strategy and generate value for our customers."

Santos noted that the group has built a solid position in the Iberian market, with dimensions and specializations representing significant competitive advantages. He expressed his goal to contribute to the company's next development stage by leveraging existing capabilities.

"I believe that the true value of growth lies in the ability to translate it into efficiency, sustained results, and an increasingly competitive response to customer needs," he added.

The appointment follows the group's August 2026 announcement of the acquisition of Spanish company Barquin y Otcoa. The operation strengthened the group's presence in the temperature-controlled transport and logistics segment.

Founded in 1946, the Paulo Duarte Group is one of the main operators in the Iberian sector, integrating companies such as Transportes Paulo Duarte (TPD), Cisternas Hurtrans, IBEREN, and Barquin y Otcoa. It serves clients in the energy, large consumer goods, distribution, and industry sectors.

The family group has been increasing its size in response to the growing complexity of the sector. In August, the group disclosed a projected consolidated revenue of approximately 240 million euros for 2026.

E.Pineda--HdM