A life in the service of his country About Carlos
Devoted to his country, he chose to dedicate his life to Angola
Carlos Manuel de São Vicente is an Angolan and Portuguese entrepreneur. A professor of economics and a published author in economic sciences. He completed his university education, with distinction, in Angola, the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada.
Devoted to his country, he chose to dedicate his life to Angola by founding the first non-public African insurance group to obtain a Lloyd’s licence in the United Kingdom and launching one of the most important hospitality businesses in Africa, with over 20 hotels throughout Angola.
Where many engage in predatory activities that do great harm to the African continent, Carlos Manuel de São Vicente decided to invest in Angola and to build a hotel structure that employed over 600 people. Far from the negative image that many try to portray, Carlos Manuel de São Vicente has always been an honest man, a good husband, the father of three children and the grandfather of two grandchildren.
You can find the key milestones in his life and professional career below:
Key milestones
Carlos Manuel de São Vicente is born in Luanda on 16 March.
He completes his primary and secondary education in Luanda, following the General Course in Trade and Administration.
He completes his compulsory military service in the Air Force, interrupting his pre-university studies, which he began in 1977.
He starts working at Sonangol EP.
He obtains his degree in economics and marries ophthalmologist Irene Alexandra da Silva Neto. The couple have three children and two grandchildren.
He completes his graduate studies in petroleum in Calgary, Texas and Oxford.
He obtains a Master’s degree in Management with distinction in Massachusetts, USA.
He leads the restructuring of Sonangol EP. During this time, he completes postgraduate studies in insurance and pension funds in London, São Paolo and Lisbon.
He designs and begins the implementation of the risk management strategy for oil operations after its approval by the government and Sonangol EP, with the creation of the AAA Group of companies. The AAA Group is initially led by the holding AAA Serviços Financeiros LDA and includes AAA Seguros SA (insurance company), AAA Pensões SA (pension company) as well as insurance brokerage companies. The same year, Carlos Manuel de São Vicente is appointed as Risk Management Director to implement the strategy and organize management.
As agreed from the outset, Carlos Manuel de São Vicente acquires 49% of the capital in AAA Serviços Financeiros LDA, which is the first holding company of the AAA Group. At the end of AAA’s second year of existence, he asks to leave Sonangol EP to avoid any conflicts.
He acquires an additional 21% in AAA Serviços Financeiros LDA. He is removed from his position as Risk Management Director at Sonangol EP.
He begins investing in the hotel industry with the aim of building 84 hotels throughout the country and created the largest hotel group in Africa to date.
The AAA Group’s structure evolves in compliance with the law and its shareholders’ intentions. After increasing the share capital of AAA Seguros SA, Carlos Manuel de São Vicente becomes the holder, directly and indirectly, of 89.98% of the company’s share capital. The same year, AAA Pensões SA is liquidated and dissolved after setting up and managing 22 pension funds and plans.
He manages the co-insurance of the oil business and acquires 49% of the shares in Standard Bank de Angola SA and becomes a director of the bank. In 2002, he obtains the first ever Lloyd’s of London brokerage licence for an African-owned company.
AAA Seguros SA is dissolved. The liquidation process is not yet completed.
He opens and operates 16 three-star and one four-star hotel. The remaining hotels were to be completed for opening in the following years, with a capacity of over 6,000 rooms.
He retires on 16 March. He is arrested by the PGR on 22 September on baseless grounds and without any evidence. He remains in custody to date.