VdA re-elected President of GRACE’s Management Board for the 2021-2023 term, a position held by partner Margarida Couto, in representation of the firm

GRACE - Empresas Responsáveis (Ethical Companies) elected in General Assembly its new governing bodies for the 2021-2023 triennium. Margarida Couto, partner at VdA, was re-elected President of GRACE’s Management Board for a second term. The Vice-Presidency will be held by Mariana Ribeiro Ferreira, Director of Corporate Citizenship at CUF, following the mandate held by Ludovic Reysset, General-Director of Danone Portugal.

The following companies are also on GRACE’s Management Board: Accenture, represented by Patrícia Faro Antunes, Bel, represented by Emília Roseiro, BP Portugal, represented by Anabela Silva, Caixa Geral de Depósitos, represented by Filipa Carmona, EDP, represented by Rita Monteiro, Grupo Pestana Pousadas de Portugal, represented by Marta Castelão Costa, Grupo Sousa, represented by Pedro Amaral Frazão, Imprensa Nacional Casa da Moeda, represented by Bárbara Vasconcelos, Informa D&B, represented by Teresa Cardoso Menezes, Lipor, represented by Fernando Leite, Omnova, represented by Paula Miranda, Sair da Casca, represented by Nathalie Ballan, and, as alternate members, Fidelidade, represented by Ana Fontoura, Lift World, represented by Suzana Rocha, and M de Manicómio, represented by Sandro Resende.

The General Assembly is chaired by the Manuel António da Mota Foundation, represented by Rui Pedroto, and the Audit Committee is chaired by AON Portugal, represented by Pedro Penalva.

“It is with a heightened sense of responsibility that I assume the Presidency of GRACE for a second term. The pandemic brought us the greatest challenge of the last 75 years, at a time when we were already living beyond our planet’s limits, thus increasing companies’ responsibility to ensure a sustainable future. GRACE aims to instill a sense of urgency in relation to the need for change in the business ecosystem, since we believe that only with companies will it be possible to achieve a paradigm of sustainability and prosperity for all”, explains Margarida Couto.

During the last three years, GRACE restructured its strategic plan, which is strongly committed to encouraging the Portuguese business community to adopt a new paradigm of sustainability and actively contribute to the promotion of the United Nations 2030 Agenda and the implementation of the SDGs, positioning itself as Portugal’s leading Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Association, recognised internationally.

In addition to the significant increase in its membership, GRACE unveiled a new visual identity which expresses the Association’s evolution over the past two decades. Its new name GRACE - Empresas Responsáveis (Ethical Companies) translates the organisation’s determination to strengthen the connection with its member companies and the new logo reflects the colour scheme of the SDGs.

This General Assembly also commemorated GRACE’s 20th anniversary – two decades at the service of ethnical companies, now reaching 183 members.

“These 20 years have been years of tremendous growth and learning with the support of all our members who, over the past two decades, have fulfilled the mission of promoting corporate responsibility in Portugal. The challenges that await us are immense, but I am convinced that this journey towards sustainability will achieve its purpose”, stated the President of GRACE.