"The years of experience in all scopes of the business has given us the ability to see beyond and cleary the opportunities in the market.."Paulo Stewart
Paulo Stewart started his career in 1984 as a trainee in ECISA, having worked in each one of its sectors – engineering, management, operations and new business – before taking over the position of CEO, in which he remained from 1992 to 2002. He was also the founder and the president of the EGEC (1997 to 2002).
He founded Saphyr and Saphyr Technology in 2002. A later year, he created its subsidiary Saphyr Commercial.
Besides that, presided the Brazilian Council of Shopping Centers (ABRASCE) for two consecutive mandates (1999 to 2003), as well as his Deliberative Council (2003 to 2005). At the moment he is a member of the Advisory Council of the entity.
In 2010, he completed 26 years of experience in the industry of shopping centers and he is still deeply passionate about what he does:
"A mall is a fascinating development, because it gets life of its own, it has personality and it is capable of permanent self-renovation."
In sports, he was the only horse rider to manage to win the tri-champion equestrian championships in the following categories: mite (1978), junior (1982) and senior (1983). He took part in the Pan American Games in Indianapolis in 1987 and the Seoul Olympics in 1988. He has taken part in L’Étape Du Tour (2009 and 2010) twice, for the amateur cycling race of Tour de France, and in 2008, as an example of continuous overcoming spirit, he became Ironman as he completed the difficult race in Florianopolis.
Focus, perseverance, determination, competitiveness, losses and victories. The teachings of the practice of sport that is what he applies in the philosophy and the every day life of the business.
Obstinate and optimistic, Paulo sees an even more pronounced growth for Saphyr in the coming years, betting on the consolidation of Brazil as one of the five biggest economic powers in the world. He says that the Industry of Shopping centers will have a great opportunity to absorb the potential of consumerism not only of already consumer niches, but also those that are emerging because they bring together the intrinsic characteristics which are conducive to mass consumption.
"We are 60 years outdated compared to the U.S., but this gap can be overcome in less than 30 years, period during which there will be strong retail expansion in all segments and profiles."
Being in command of a company with solid foundations in the past, but at the same time it is modern and innovative to build up for the future, Paulo adds:
"Our biggest differential is to see beyond the obvious and develop a product which is consistent in its content, charming in its own way and efficient in operation. Perfectly suited to the circumstances of location, area of influence, potential consumers’ profiles and product differentiation."
"Unlike the other real estate development / commercial enterprises, the shopping center is extremely dynamic changing its content on a daily basis. So, we think about how to develop a timeless product that can grow and consolidate over the years, creating a virtuous cycle of continuous improvement and asset recovery."
He concludes:
"The Shopping Center is a capital intensive business and there is a lot of know how involved and, when it is well planned it provides continued and increasing results over the years."