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João Dolores succeeds Cláudia Azevedo as CEO of Sonae

Cláudia Azevedo steps down as CEO of Sonae and takes over as Chair of the Board, with João Dolores as the new CEO starting April 2027.

1 October 2026Tagblick Newsdesk

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João Dolores succeeds Cláudia Azevedo as CEO of Sonae — Photo: Não está identificado · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

Cláudia Azevedo will leave her position as CEO of Sonae, where she has led the family business for the past eight years. Following this change, Azevedo will assume the role of Chair of the Board, as announced by Sonae's Board of Directors.

João Dolores, who currently serves as Chief Financial Officer (CFO), will become the new CEO of Sonae, succeeding Cláudia Azevedo. This transition is scheduled to take place in April 2027.

The decision was communicated by Sonae's Board of Directors through an official statement. Both changes aim to ensure continuity in the group’s management, reflecting the company's family structure.

Archive photo: João Dolores succeeds Cláudia Azevedo as CEO of Sonae — Archive photoPhoto: World Economic Forum · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0

According to the announcement, João Dolores has been a key figure at Sonae, acting as Azevedo's right-hand man within the family holding. Executive functions within the company will be assigned to Dolores at the time of his ascension.

In addition to the leadership change, Azevedo continues to play an important role at Sonae, now as Chair of the Board, where she can influence the company’s future strategies.

This announcement marks a transition phase at Sonae, as Azevedo has always had a significant role in the development and direction of the family group.

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