Grupo Poma
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| Company type | Private company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Conglomerate |
| Founded | 1919 |
| 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 |
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]
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:
- Excel Automotriz: The largest automotive distributor in Central America, representing brands such as Toyota, BMW, Mitsubishi, and Chevrolet.[7]
- Grupo Roble: Dedicated to the construction and management of shopping centers and office spaces.
- Real Hotels & Resorts: Operates chains including InterContinental, Marriott, and Choice Hotels.
- Grupo Solaire: Focuses on industrial manufacturing of architectural aluminum and glass.
- Autofácil: The financial division specialized in automotive loans.
- Multiplaza: A chain of high-end shopping malls with operations in El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, Costa Rica, and Colombia.[8]