57-year-old businessman died this Saturday (24); he introduced a reduced fare model and transformed mass air transport in the country
Businessman Constantino de Oliveira Júnior, founder and chairman of the Board of Directors of GOL Linhas Aéreas, (24), aged 57. The death was confirmed by the company, which, in a statement, highlighted the leadership and strategic vision of the executive responsible for transforming access to air transport in Brazil.
The trajectory of Constantino Júnior started in land transportfollowing in the family’s footsteps in the sector. Between 1994 and 2000, he served as director of Comporte Participações, a group that controls several bus companies in the country. However, it was at the turn of the millennium that the businessman decided to expand his horizons into aviation.
In 2001, Júnior founded GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes, assuming the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO). His management was marked by the unprecedented introduction in Brazil of the concept of “low cost, low fare”. The strategy allowed millions of Brazilians to fly for the first time, intensifying competition and reshaping the national aviation market.
Expansion and leadership
As head of GOL’s executive presidency until 2012, Constantino led the rapid expansion of the company. In 2004, he also joined the Board of Directors, accumulating his duties for eight years.
After leaving the position of CEO, he dedicated himself exclusively to presiding over the Board, a position he held until the time of his death. In addition to his work at GOL, he was one of the founders and member of the board of Grupo ABRA, a holding company recently created to control the operations of GOL and Avianca in Latin America.
Throughout his career, the businessman accumulated prestigious awards, being elected “Executive of Value” by the newspaper Valor Econômico (2001 and 2002) and “Illustrious Executive” in the Air Transport category by GALA/IATA (2008).
