President
JOSÉ REIS DA SILVA RAMOS was born on August 15th, 1946, in Oliveira do Douro, Vila Nova de Gaia and is graduated in Metallurgical Engineering from the Faculty of Engineering of Porto.
In 1968, at the age of only 22, he joined the Salvador Caetano bus company (now CaetanoBus), and until 1975 he was the Assistant to the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Salvador Fernandes Caetano.
In 1975 he joined the company’s management and later in 1986, he assumed the position of Vice President of Salvador Caetano – I.M.V.T .
In 2007, in the year that Toyota reaches in Portugal a total amount of sales of 500,000, the name of the company Salvador Caetano – I.M.V.T., is changed to Toyota Caetano Portugal, passing this to concentrate all the activities of Toyota and Lexus brands.
José Ramos assumes the position of President of Toyota Caetano Portugal in 2010, giving continuity to the leadership and solidity that the company has been gaining in the market and within the Salvador Caetano Group. He also holds several other positions of responsibility in other companies of the Salvador Caetano Group, of which we can stand out the Presidency of CaetanoBus, Caetano Auto, Rigor, Portianga, Robert Hudson and Caetano Components.
As an active voice in the automotive industry, José Ramos took over the presidency of ACAP – Automobile Association of Portugal between March 20th, 2007 and March 27th, 2013. In recognition of the contribution and personal dedication provided during the 2 mandates he assumed as Chairman of the Board, ACAP honoured him with a Prize of Honour in March 2013.
The strong commercial and personal connection that he established with the Japanese country led him to accept in 2002 the position of Honorary Consul of Japan, promoting in his activity a connection between the two countries.
Resulting from his personal commitment to promoting local economic activity and community development, he was honoured in 2009 with the Gold Medal of the City of Vila Nova de Gaia and, in 2013, the Medal of Merit of the Parish of Oliveira do Douro.