When, at the age of 18, a young Josué Tato started working on the construction team at the Aromatics Factory in Leça da Palmeira, he never imagined that it would end up turning into a lifetime job. 47 years later, the Galp Group is still his home and, despite having reached the age of 65, he still hasn´t thought about retiring. His story is an inspiring one
His first employment contract was dated December 1977 but the emotional connection between the now real estate manager and Galp began in his childhood. “When I was in primary school, I went with my colleagues and our teacher to attend the inauguration of SONAP – the National Oil Company –, in Parque de Real, in Matosinhos, the place where he now works, and a ceremony presided over by the then President of Republic, Américo Tomaz”, Josué Tato tenderly recalled this very defining moment in his life. His family has always been connected to the refinery and oil. His now 90-year old father worked as a lathe operator for Sacor, the first Portuguese oil company that is an integral part of Galp’s history. Josué witnessed the construction of the refinery in 1967 and, more sadly, its recent demolition. “I saw the birth and disappearance of that which was both my neighbour and my workplace”, he added.
47 years of memories
For Josué, Galp represents the company where he grew up in every way and, in his own words, where he “became a man”.
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Professionally, he has undertaken several jobs, starting as a level-three clerk in the Accounting department of the Aromatics Factory project and, in 1979, before it was incorporated into the Matosinhos Refinery, he moved to the Procurement department, where he worked as a Purchasing Agent. Six years later, he moved on to the Human Resources area and, in 1988, he was promoted to Customer Manager and transferred to the Commercial business division, an external position he held for 18 years. He remembers the trips he made during that time, when he rarely went a year without driving more than 80,000 kilometres.
In keeping with this position, he was a pioneer in adopting computers. The company provided an “enormous” IBM Series 1 that he also still remembers: “There was a manual list with client codes that we would then input into the computer but, as I’d already memorised them all, I no longer needed paper for anything”.
In 2006, he began managing the company’s real estate portfolio and has continued ever since.
Thus, Josué Tato has taken on various roles across his 47 years with the company and is today part of the team managing the energy’s company’s real estate assets.
Personally, the company has always been a “fundamental and extraordinary” source of support. He married in 1985, he had a daughter, who is now aged 35, was widowed in 1999 before again remarrying in 2012.
Along the way, he graduated in Law in Coimbra, completed a Master´s in Legal and Forensic Sciences in Porto, underwent an internship with the Portuguese Bar Association and took courses in European Union Law and Law, Business and Justice at the Galp Energia Academy.
Due to these and other reasons, Josué Tato “wears the company’s jersey” with great pride and has been a member of the Galp Club Northern Branch for several terms, serving as chair of its Supervisory Board for the last 12 years. He currently serves on the company’s governing bodies.
From Leixões since very young
In his free time, he played volleyball for Leixões Sport Club. His passion for his local club does literally come from the cradle. He is member no. 42 and was registered by his father on 2 March 1959, just a few hours after his birth.
Leixões Sport Club still remains his number one sporting passion
“Leixões got promoted to the 1st Division on Sunday, 1 March, and my father went to register me as a member on the following day”, he recalled. The umbilical cord connecting him with the club was never broken even if in the years he studied in Coimbra did lead him to gain “a certain sympathy” for the city’s club Académica. His grandfather and father were athletes at Leixões and, following in this family tradition, he was always and remains extremely close to Leixões. “It’s like a family and, even when somewhat distant, I’m always still close to the club”, he affirmed with conviction.
Golf is another of his great passions alongside touring by motorbike.
However, fear of having an accident has mostly seen him drive only a car. Now, it’s golf and chess that take up what little free time he has.
Friendships for ever
The friendships built up among company employees is a precious memory that Josué Tato carefully stores in his heart. Some colleagues have accompanied him throughout all the moments in his life over the last 47 years. It was they who organised his stag party when he was getting married, who supported him throughout the most complicated times and also who encouraged him whenever he needed it. And there are many situations that he can identify as examples: “I met my wife because of Galp”. In a case related to a company property, he met with a lawyer, they became friends, began dating and got married. “As you can see, Galp is much more than just a workplace, it is a life, my life,” he concluded and clearly emotional.
Josué, in the centre, with his first boss, Manuel Gomes, to the right, and Assunção, to the left, in January 1978, in the administrative offices of the Matosinhos Refinery.
