Luís Deslandes, historic manager of Navigator, has died.

Luís Deslandes, a longtime manager at Soporcel (now Navigator), has died at the age of 83, the company announced. Luís Deslandes was one of the key figures at Soporcel, a company that was incorporated into Portucel at the beginning of the century (as part of the privatization of the industrial pulp company), giving rise to the group now known as Navigator.

Luís Deslandes remained with the company. He even served as interim CEO when José Honório, for "personal reasons," decided to leave Portucel in 2014. It was reported at the time that he had made this decision due to disagreements with Pedro Queiroz Pereira ( who passed away in 2018 ), the company's main shareholder.

At Soporcel, he was a mentor in the construction of the pulp and paper mills in Figueira da Foz, which, according to Navigator's press release, "was considered the most successful industrial project in the post-April 25th period, creating a global benchmark and marking a technological and industrial leap that revolutionized the sector in Portugal and increased the competitiveness of the national industry on a global scale." Navigator also attributes him a significant role in the creation of "the major paper brands that propelled Navigator to the global stage, cementing the company's reputation as a global benchmark for excellence, innovation, and sustainability."

In the same statement, Navigator, expressing condolences to the family, described Deslandes as "an essential figure in the history of The Navigator Company and a leading figure in the pulp and paper sector, both in Portugal and abroad. An example of vision, innovation, and humanity, his influence continues to inspire and guide our path."

He was a chemical engineer, having graduated from the Instituto Superior Técnico and also studied engineering in Belgium.