The President of Santander Portugal, Antonio Vieira Monteiro has died from the coronavirus on Wednesday, the second victim of the disease in Portugal.
According to the report by Reuters, Vieira Monteiro who was 73, became chairman of Santander Totta in 2019 after seven years as chief executive. He led the bank during a period of austerity, economic and debt crisis in Portugal.
A Santander spokesman confirmed that Vieira Monteiro had died, but would not say if that was from the coronavirus.
The Portuguese newspaper Jornal Economico said Vieira Monteiro was put in quarantine earlier this month after a trip to hard-hit Italy and was in intensive care in a Lisbon hospital since last week, the report added.
Portugal has reported 448 confirmed cases of coronavirus, far below neighbouring Spain’s 13,716.
The statement from the bank on the death of Vieira Monteiro reads:
“Banco Santander Portugal expresses its regret at the passing of its Chairman of the Board of Directors, António José Sacadura Vieira Monteiro.
António Vieira Monteiro, 73 years old, devoted his entire career to banking, having been a director of Santander in Portugal since 2000 and Chairman of its Executive Committee between 2012 and 2018.
During his leadership, the Bank consolidated and expanded its activity in Portugal, permanently maintaining the rigour and determination that have always characterized it.
Banco Santander, its Board of Directors and its employees offer the most sincere condolences to their family and friends. António Vieira Monteiro’s legacy will always remain with us,” the bank stated.