Forty-seven years old, representing the third generation of a family working in the footwear industry, Luis Onofre produces elegant women’s shoes with his eponymous brand that exports 93% of its production around the world. Worldwide known celebrities, such as Naomi Watts, Penelope Cruz, and Michelle Obama wear his shoes.

After getting his degree from the Faculty of Fine Arts in Porto, Luis Onofre continued with his studies, graduating also from the Design and Footwear Academy. In 2014, the President of Portugal, Aníbal Cavaco Silva, distinguished him with the Order of Entrepreneurial Merit.

With the appointment of Luis Onofre, this is now the second time a Portuguese entrepreneur has taken over the CEC’s leadership: in the past, Fortunato Frederico was the President for a period of two years, starting in 2001. CEC represents an industrial sector with over 21 thousand companies in Europe responsible for creating 278 thousand jobs.