Brazilian businessman José Maurício Caldeira builds an international career
Starting from São José do Rio Preto, in the countryside of São Paulo state, businessman and executive José Maurício Caldeira built his reputation through the development of Colpar Brasil and Adone Holding, companies controlled by brothers José Roberto and Francisco Colnaghi.
When he graduated in Business Administration and Accounting, José Maurício Caldeira never imagined that he would become a member of the Board of Directors of Colpar Brasil, a group led by brothers José Roberto and Francisco Colnaghi. Nor did he envision leaving São José do Rio Preto to work on other continents and participate in the management of major international ventures.
José Maurício Caldeira’s successful trajectory coincides with the expansion of Colpar Brasil, which began its operations in the agricultural irrigation equipment sector and later expanded into PVC pipe manufacturing and rotational molding. Recognition for the quality of its products enabled the company to evolve into a major business group operating across various sectors of the economy.
Today, the group operates in several Brazilian states. Its businesses encompass agribusiness, food production, PVC manufacturing, forestry ventures, MDF board production, and real estate development. In Brazil, José Maurício Caldeira is also co-founder of JMC Consulting, a company that has been active since 1994 in investment management and real estate project structuring.
José Maurício Caldeira is also among the founders of Adone Holding, established in 2006 and headquartered in Austria. The company, controlled by brothers José Roberto and Francisco Colnaghi, was created to manage investments outside Brazil, with José Maurício serving as a member of the Board of Directors.
From São José do Rio Preto to the International Market
At the age of 13, José Maurício Caldeira began working in accounting offices in São José do Rio Preto. At 18, he enrolled in college to study Accounting and later Business Administration. At the beginning of his career, he never imagined participating in major projects linked to the development of countries such as Angola and Congo.
José Maurício Caldeira founded his own business in 1994. After working for ten years as an accountant and manager of dealership networks and tire sales operations, he established JMC Consulting, which currently specializes in investment management and real estate project structuring in Brazil.
In 2003, José Maurício Caldeira was introduced to businessmen José Roberto Colnaghi and Francisco Colnaghi, controllers of Colpar Brasil, to assist in the structuring and internationalization of the group, which had begun exploring business opportunities in Africa. This moment became a turning point in his career.
Angola: A Nation to Rebuild
José Maurício Caldeira arrived in Angola during a post-war period. “There was an entire country to be rebuilt,” he recalls. Operations initially began through trading activities, but local demands quickly evolved.
To meet the country’s needs, especially in the supply of construction materials, an industrial complex focused on the sector was developed. Another major project was the implementation of Grand Lakes Veículos, a Volkswagen Trucks and Buses dealership network in Angola.
Throughout the operation, cultural challenges also emerged, involving everything from working hours to attitudes toward work. “We respected the local culture, but we invested in professional training. We identified talent and created opportunities for these individuals to become role models,” highlights José Maurício Caldeira.
According to him, the result of this policy was significant in reducing the need for expatriate professionals. “There are employees in Angola who have been with us since the beginning. It was an extremely rewarding experience,” he summarizes.
The Challenge in the Congo
Following the establishment of Adone Holding and the consolidation of operations in Angola, the group took another step in 2011 by launching operations in the Republic of the Congo.
The experience gained in Angola contributed to the development of a new industrial district in Brazzaville, the country’s capital, as well as the implementation of infrastructure and agribusiness projects. At that time, the company employed more than three thousand workers. Today, it maintains approximately fifteen hundred employees. Among the challenges faced was adapting to a country whose official language is French.
José Maurício Caldeira emphasizes that one of the key factors behind the success of the partnership with the Colnaghi brothers was the entrepreneurial vision, work ethic, and strategic mindset of José Roberto Colnaghi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Colpar Brasil and Adone Holding.
New Investments
Colpar Brasil has consistently demonstrated confidence in the country by maintaining investments and diversifying its businesses even during periods of economic uncertainty.
In 2018, amid an uncertain economic scenario, the company inaugurated GreenPlac, an MDF manufacturing plant in Água Clara, Mato Grosso do Sul. It also expanded the operations of construction and real estate developer Abitte into states beyond São Paulo, invested in the second dairy and juice factory of Bonolat in Penápolis, São Paulo, and built a new HDPE (high-density polyethylene) plant, increasing Asperbras’ participation in the irrigation market.
In agribusiness, through Colpar Brasil, the group operates 25 farms located across 11 municipalities in three Brazilian states, utilizing advanced technology and innovation in livestock, agriculture, and forestry operations.
Adone Holding maintains its operations in Angola through Grand Lakes, a dealership network for Volkswagen Trucks and Buses and the Chinese automaker JAC, in addition to operating in the implementation and management of urban mobility projects.
In the Republic of the Congo, through its subsidiary Austral Construction, the group operates in infrastructure, agribusiness, and civil construction. In Uruguay, since 2014, it has maintained Adone Projects, a company focused on procurement and trading activities.
In 2025, Adone Holding began operations in the Republic of Gabon with the establishment of Agrofort Construction, a company focused on agribusiness and infrastructure sectors.