'We deeply regret the loss of António Ferreira Amorim, who passed away at the age of 95. He dedicated his life to the development of the cork industry, distinguishing himself through his leadership and respect for people. He leaves behind a legacy of commitment and passion for cork.' This was announced by Amorim Cork Flooring on LinkedIn.
The third son of Albertina and Américo Alves Amorim was one of the four brothers who took control of Corticeira Amorim in the 1950s and transformed it into the world leader in the cork industry.
Américo Amorim, the charismatic leader of the third generation of the family and president of Corticeira between 1953 and 2001, passed away in 2017. In 2022, it was José Ferreira Amorim's turn, and last year Joaquim Amorim, the youngest brother, departed.
António Ferreira de Amorim
The father of António, Cristina, and Joana Rios de Amorim began working in the company in 1949. But even earlier, at the age of 14, he had his first contact with the family business while studying at Colégio S. Luís in Espinho and at Escola Académica do Porto because he was "curious to know what was happening behind the doors of Amorim & Irmãos".
"Of the four brothers who committed themselves to the development of the company (José, António, Américo, and Joaquim), he was someone who was accustomed to listening and speaking. Someone who enjoyed feeling the pulse of the company from within," Corticeira described in a publication that appeared in 2020.
With a fortune estimated by Forbes magazine at about 790 million euros, Américo Amorim's brother was the 18th richest in Portugal, according to the publication's ranking at the end of last year.
"I have always enjoyed working in the factory; I love the factory environment, with the factory workers. He oversaw everything related to loading and unloading," the same publication quoted, highlighting that António Ferreira de Amorim was responsible for the gift of organisation, precision, and efficiency that always made peace and social tranquillity possible within companies at certain times.
Corticeira highlights "strong and engaging personality"
In a statement, Corticeira Amorim described António Ferreira Amorim as a "key figure in the third generation of the family," who leaves a legacy of "an example of work, determination, courage, and responsibility".
"From a young age, he dedicated his work to the development of the family's cork processing activity. He took on the responsibility for production and quickly established himself as an industrial leader, not only due to the precision and effectiveness of his business operations but also thanks to his strong and engaging personality," it adds.
In the same vein, the Santa Maria da Feira group points out that "António Ferreira Amorim significantly contributed to the definition and execution of Corticeira Amorim's strategy over more than 70 years," noting that "his passion was cork and cork oak forests, being a pioneer in the implementation of the best forest management and production practices".
"His concern was for people, with whom he built a relationship of complicity and respect, fundamental for productivity, safety, and professional motivation. The proximity to the people in production gave him the most satisfaction," emphasises Corticeira Amorim.
Source: Eco Sapo