A specialist in Marketing and Management, Marco Galinha is the Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Grupo BEL, established in 2001. With a strong entrepreneurial drive from an early age, he launched his first company — BEL Network Solutions, focused on software development — at the age of 20, leaving behind a degree in Computer Engineering to pursue his business vision.

Under his leadership, Grupo BEL has grown into a diversified ecosystem of companies with national and international presence, guided by a strategy of sustainable growth, operational efficiency, and long-term vision. The core business of the Group is Distribution and Logistics, a sector in which it has built a solid and structured path. This began in 2004 with the creation of BEL Distribuição and expanded with key acquisitions: SDT in 2017, ADR in 2019, Amaral & Filhos in 2023 (owner of the Poupança cash & carry chain), and in 2024, a majority stake in VASP, the leading press distribution company in Portugal.

With a future-oriented approach, Marco Galinha has also driven investment in Innovation and Technology, founding the Innovation Center in 2015 — a hub dedicated to research and the technological development of new projects. In 2018, he became a key shareholder in the Active Space Group, particularly Active Space Technologies, a high-tech engineering company delivering electromechanical systems for the aerospace, aeronautical, and nuclear industries, collaborating with leading international space agencies.

Strategic diversification also led the Group into the Media and Communication sector, where it played a decisive role in the recovery and relaunch of Global Media Group, one of Portugal’s most important media conglomerates. Marco Galinha’s personal commitment was instrumental in preserving iconic titles and securing a sustainable future for the sector.

Throughout his career, Marco Galinha has received numerous recognitions, including:

• Young Entrepreneur of the Year (2011) – Região de Leiria newspaper
• “Portuguese of Value” Award (2014 & 2016) – Lusopress
• AFCEA Medal (2015) – Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association, for “Outstanding Services”

In addition to his business activities, he has held prominent institutional roles:

• Member of the Portuguese Economic and Social Council (CES) (2016–2019)
• Vice-President of ANJE – National Association of Young Entrepreneurs (2016–2019)
• Member of the General Council of CIP – Portuguese Business Confederation (2016–2023)

In 2016, he appeared on national television as one of the investors on the entrepreneurial reality show Shark Tank (SIC), sharing his vision and experience with the public.

Outside the business world, Marco Galinha also stood out in competitive sports, having been crowned National Downhill Mountain Biking Champion in 1995 — a clear demonstration of his drive, resilience, and competitive spirit.

Today, he leads Grupo BEL with a commitment to responsible entrepreneurship, focused on value creation, innovation, and the development of a strong and sustainable business legacy that contributes positively to the Portuguese economy and society.

Chairman & CEO of Grupo BEL