João Marques da Cruz, former president of EDP Brasil between 2021 and 2025, took office this Wednesday as executive administrator of the António Pargana Foundation. In addition to having served on the Executive Board of EDP, Marques da Cruz was president of AICEP and developed a career in the transport sector, with roles at TAP, CP and EMEF. He currently also holds non-executive positions in several international companies.
His mission at the foundation is to develop new areas of action and projects, as well as promote initiatives that bring Portugal and the Diaspora closer together. The FAP Board of Directors includes, in addition to Marques da Cruz, António Pargana himself and Diogo Feio. The Board of Trustees is composed of Pedro Reis, Pedro Siza Vieira, David Justino, Graça Fonseca, Fátima Barros and Miguel Guedes.
The António Pargana Foundation, established in October 2023, aims to contribute to strengthening ties between Portugal and the Diaspora, through greater mutual understanding. The direct beneficiaries of its actions are people of Portuguese descent and Portuguese speakers, to whom it provides programs in partnership with major Portuguese universities, aiming to create or reinforce the connection to Portugal through contact with the business community, cultural and political institutions.
The foundation was created by Portuguese entrepreneur António Pargana, a resident of Brazil and active member of the Diaspora Council, which brings together influential Portuguese people abroad. The institution has the high patronage of former President of the Republic Aníbal Cavaco Silva.
