Grupo Poma

Last updated
Grupo Poma
Company type Private company
Industry Conglomerate
Founded1919
Headquarters San Salvador, El Salvador
Key people
Fernando Poma (President)
Products Automotive, Real estate, Hotels, Telecommunications
Divisions Excel Automotriz, Grupo Roble, Real Hotels & Resorts, Grupo Solaire, Autofácil, Multiplaza
Website grupopoma.com

Grupo Poma is a family-owned conglomerate based in El Salvador. It is considered one of the 50 largest companies in the Central American region. [1] The group is currently led by Fernando Poma. [2] Its business activities include automobile dealerships, real estate development, industrial manufacturing, and hotels, as well as investments in telecommunications and various non-profit organizations. [3]

Contents

History

Early years

The company was founded in 1915 by Bartolomé Poma, a Spanish entrepreneur who arrived in El Salvador and established an automotive transport company. By 1918, he obtained the representation for Hudson and Essex vehicles. Despite a major fire in the company's early years, it rebuilt a new garage in 1920. [3]

The firm survived significant challenges, including the Great Depression and World War II, the latter of which forced a temporary closure in 1943 due to a lack of imported vehicles. Over the following decades, the group diversified into the hotel and real estate sectors. [3]

The group also developed internal capabilities in financing and risk management through its Autofácil division, which provides automotive credit in markets with low banking penetration across the region. [4]

Consolidation and present day

Currently, Grupo Poma operates in nine countries across the Americas. [3] [5] In 2025, Fernando Poma assumed the presidency of the conglomerate. [6]

Group divisions

The conglomerate is organized into six primary divisions:

Philanthropy

The group supports social initiatives through several organizations, including the Fundación Poma, the Escuela Superior de Economía y Negocios (ESEN), and the Fundación Renacer, which focuses on helping youth in the foster care system transition to professional life. [9]

References

  1. "De las 50 empresas centroamericanas: Grupo Poma". Forbes (in Spanish). March 23, 2025.
  2. "Fernando Poma asume presidencia de Grupo Poma". El Economista Net (in Spanish). Retrieved December 19, 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "El conglomerado Grupo Poma celebra 100 años de fundación". Diario El Mundo (in Spanish). March 20, 2019.
  4. "Grupo Poma: Una trayectoria empresarial con valores". Revista Estrategia y Negocios (in Spanish).
  5. "Cuatro salvadoreños entre los 500 más influyentes de América Latina". Bloomberg Línea (in Spanish). September 19, 2022.
  6. "Grupo Poma celebra 100 años de operación".
  7. "Empresas Miembro: GRUPO POMA". Centro RS.
  8. "Grupo Poma incursiona con Multiplaza en negocio de centros comerciales". Diario La República (in Spanish).
  9. "Fundación Renacer de Fernando Poma, cambia vidas en El Salvador". Pronto (in Spanish).