After weeks of controversy, the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa (SCML) received a new director on Monday. The inauguration ceremony for Paulo Duarte Sousa took place in Lisbon, in the presence of Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, and the institution's new director stated that he is taking on his new role with "pride and a sense of responsibility", while acknowledging the “challenges” that the entity faces.

"Pride because the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa is an institution of invaluable public utility with the mission of bringing well-being to people, especially the most vulnerable", he said, committing to honouring the historical legacy and showing dedication to the workers and the various teams.

The Minister of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security, Maria do Rosário Palma Ramalho, stressed that the economist was the Government's choice due to his "vast professional experience, but also with proven results in the social area", and that he has "the best profile to face the serious challenges that the Santa Casa da Misericórdia has ahead of it".

The minister responsible for the area also pointed out that the new composition of the Board and the date for the inauguration will be announced soon, "so that work can begin as soon as possible".

It is worth recalling that the change in the management of the SCML took place at a time of great turbulence and instability in the institution, with director Ana Jorge being dismissed before completing a year at the head of the organisation, after being accused by the current Government of "seriously negligent actions" that affected the management of the entity.

Ana Jorge, who took office on 2 May 2023, was chosen by the previous socialist Government of António Costa, and inherited an institution with serious financial difficulties, caused by the years of the pandemic and by a process of internationalisation of social games carried out by the administration of director Edmundo Martinho, which may have caused losses in the order of 50 million euros.

Shortly after the name of the new director was announced, last week, several media outlets reported that Paulo Duarte Sousa had been banned four years ago by the Central Bank of Mozambique from holding management positions in credit institutions and financial companies for three years.

The news forced the office of Maria do Rosário Ramalho to clarify that the now director of the SCML appealed the ban, through the courts, and "was cleared, with res judicata, in 2020".

At 56 years old, Paulo Alexandre Sousa has a degree in Business Management from the Instituto Superior de Economia e Gestão (ISEG), and has worked in banking, namely as chairman of the executive committee of Banco Comercial e de Investimentos, S.A. and in the Central Directorate of Real Estate Financing of Caixa Geral de Depósitos (CGD).

Internationally, between 2013 and 2019, he represented the interests of CGD in Mozambique, and was also Portugal's representative on the Economic Affairs Committee, within the framework of the European Mortgage Federation.

Read Also: New director of the SCML says he is aware of the "challenges" that the institution faces (Portuguese version)