The president of APEL died after being run over this morning in Lisbon.
“It was with great shock that the President of the Republic learned of the death of Pedro Sobral, this morning in Lisbon, in tragic conditions. Pedro Sobral did a remarkable job as President of the Portuguese Association of Publishers and Booksellers and will be greatly missed by the book sector in particular and by Culture in general. The President of the Republic remembers, in particular, with deep gratitude, the partnership with APEL at the Book Festival in Belém, in which Pedro Sobral was one of the main promoters.”
Pedro Sobral cbike ride on Avenida da India, towards Algés this morning when he was hit by a car, confirmed Leya in a statement sent to newsrooms.
The cyclist was also assisted by Sapadores and INEM at the scene, but At 8:00 am, Pedro Sobral’s death was declared.
“It was with deep and heavy sadness that LeYa received, this morning, the news of the tragic death of Pedro Sobral, director of Edições Gerais, as a result of a run over”, said the publisher, in a statement.
In a statement, the Minister of Culture, Dalila Rodrigues, expressed her “deep regret” over the unexpected death.
“I express my deep regret, still shocked, by the unexpected death of Pedro Sobral, President of the Portuguese Association of Publishers and Booksellers (APEL) and essential partner of the Ministry of Culture. Recognized both for his critical and entrepreneurial spirit and for his dynamic openness to dialogue , in the publishing and bookselling market, Pedro Sobral will be remembered for his career dedicated to books and the importance of reading habits in our country.
Pedro Sobral “helped build LeYa”
Director of General Editions at Grupo LeYa, Pedro Sobral was appointed president of APEL in 2021, a position he has held to date, after three years as vice-president.
LeYa guarantees that “she will do everything” to continue the project led by Pedro Sobral with the same conviction and enthusiasm, noting that this will be the best way to pay tribute to him and express our gratitude.
“Pedro deeply believed in the power of books and the freedom of publishing, values with which he helped build LeYa,” said LeYa’s executive president, Ana Rita Bessa.
Pedro Sobral graduated in Economics and Political Science from the Catholic University of Lisbon, having studied the General Management Program at Harvard Business School, in the United States.
With an initial career in the financial and consultancy area, he was appointed, in 2004, Director of Marketing and Sales at the Almedina Group.
In 2008, he joined the LEYA Group, as director of Marketing and Digital Content, later as coordinator of the Editorial Division and, finally, administrator of the group’s General Editions.
