Brazilian businessman, Abilio Diniz, dies at age 87

Son of the founder of Grupo Pão de Açúcar, where he was leader for 54 years, Abilio Diniz died last Sunday (18th), due to complications from pneumonitis at Albert Einstein Hospital, in São Paulo, where he had been hospitalized since January.

The company was formed in 1948 as ‘Doceira Pão de Açúcar’ and became the largest retailer in Latin America was headed by one of the most influential and successful businessmen in Brazil. With a trajectory marked by rises and conflicts in the market, his figure went beyond his importance in the business world, as he was also known for his love for sports. So much so, that he even took part in boxing, motor racing, polo and motorboarding professionally, and among others sports he practiced, he positioned himself as a great supporter of physical activities. They even carry out a variety of well-being programs in their companies to encourage employees to live healthier lifestyles.

In addition to being a business leader, he was a professor at the renowned Fundação Getúlio Vargas and father of six children. Ana Maria, João Paulo, Lucília and Pedro Paulo from his first marriage, and Rafaela and Miguel, fruits of marriage with the economist Geizy Marchesi. They met at a GPA event where she began her career as trainee in 1996 and had been married since 2004. In 2022, he lost one of his oldest sons, João Paulo Diniz, at age 58, after suffering a heart attack.

Among the countless tributes, his wife deeply mourned the death of her husband with whom she spent two decades at side and frequently exchanged declarations of love in interviews and its social networks. 

Chris Potaris / The News2

Photo credit : Abilio Diniz – São Paulo, april 2022
Leandro Chemalle / Thenews2