Meet the Team

A former commercial helicopter test pilot and a native of Wexford County, Ireland. Patrick remains active in the companies management, focusing on customer relations, strategy and R&D.

Born in Angola, Sérgio adopted the city of Viseu as his hometown, where he has lived since he was very young. He graduated in Business Management (1996, ESTV - Viseu) and later completed postgraduate degrees in Taxation (2006, ISAG - Porto) and Finance (2009, ISCTE - Lisbon). He is also a Certified Accountant, registered with the Portuguese Certified Accountant Association since 1997.

With over 25 years of experience in various industries—including the forest industry, international fruit trade, and cranes—he has always worked in financial and management roles. He has been connected to the company for over 10 years and joined the Board of Directors at the beginning of 2021.

Born in Viseu, he graduated in Electronics and Telecommunications from the University of Aveiro in 2001. He joined SOIMA's IT Department in October of that year. In 2003, he became Director of the Quality Department while also taking on responsibilities in After-Sales Service, Health and Safety, Environment, and later, Management/Sales Control. In 2014, he was appointed to the Board of Directors, a position he continues to hold.

Born in Praia de Mira, where he completed high school, and currently residing in Canas de Senhorim, Hugo holds a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the University of Coimbra (2011). He also completed postgraduate studies in Economics (2012) and specialized in Chinese Business in South America through a program at the University of Aveiro and the University of São Paulo, Brazil (2014).

He joined the commercial department of Stafford Tower Cranes, where his multicultural and international business expertise has been instrumental in expanding the company’s network across North America, Africa, Asia, and Australia. Since 2021, he has served as Operations Manager.

Born in London with German background, Mike has been involved in construction for many years moving to B2B publishing in 2001. He has been focused on the international crane industry for 24 years. Now responsible for brand, product and client development.

Born in Viseu, he studied at the Engineering Technical College in Lisbon before returning in 1980. Throughout his career, he has consistently focused on technical activities.

At the time the company began constructing cranes, he took on responsibility for the entire technical process, from design to production. With the continuous evolution of the products, he is now dedicated to the technical aspects across all sectors involved in crane creation, including electrical design, structural design, mechanisms, electrical and electronic control, hydraulics, automation, and the selection of all components for installation.

Born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, Patrick began his career in the tower crane industry at just 18 years old. While earning degrees in Global Studies and German at Arizona State University, he gained hands-on experience working with the marketing and engineering teams at Stafford Crane Group. After graduating, he took on the role of Director of Engineering and Estimating for all U.S. operations. Today, while continuing in that position, Patrick remains actively involved across multiple facets of Stafford Tower Cranes, including sales, engineering, and marketing.

Born in Germany, Carlos Correia made Viseu his hometown after his parents returned to Portugal. In the lands of Viriato, he began his academic journey, completing his high school education in Accounting and Administration.

Entering the labor market at an early age, he has accumulated 26 years of experience in various roles, including Warehouse Manager, Stock and Cost Management, and Procurement Manager. Carlos has been with the company for over 16 years, dedicating the last 10 years to the commercial department.

Born in Lisbon and a resident of Viseu for 40 years, he has an academic background in Industrial Studies and has attended sales and management courses at ISEL in Lisbon. After serving in the Army and Navy in the 1970s, he spent several years designing steel structures as a Civil Construction Designer.

He joined Soima Cranes in 1983 as a salesman and eventually became the Commercial Director, focusing on the export sector, particularly in Spain and various other countries worldwide. He leads the company in the commercial and logistics departments across several Latin American countries and other Spanish-speaking nations, as well as in the Portuguese market.

Born in Viseu in 1973, he moved to Porto at an early age, where he completed a professional course in mechanical locksmithing. In 1990, he began working at Comboios de Portugal (CP) for nearly a decade, focusing on combustion engines as well as hydraulic and pneumatic systems, all while finishing high school in the evenings.

In 1999, he left the leading company in the sector to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering at the Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto (FEUP). In 2003, he embarked on his journey in load lifting solutions, initially responsible for mechanical and structural design, including the drawing, manufacturing, and testing of overhead cranes, gantries, marina cranes, rolling paths, and rockers for six years. He then took on the role of product manager for special lifting solutions and after-sales service for tower cranes in the Mediterranean and PALOP regions, working directly with customers and dealers for twelve years.

As an active member of the professional order, he was responsible for obtaining construction permits and providing internal technical training for the employees of his previous companies.

Born in Viseu, he studied Mechanical Engineering and began his career with the company as his first job. As a member of the engineering department, he contributes to updating old models and introducing new ones into production. With his fresh perspective and eagerness to learn, he brings innovative ideas to the team. His contributions are vital to the department's efforts to enhance and innovate, supporting the company’s ongoing growth and development.

Born in Viseu, Portugal, he is an experienced professional in mechanics and technology. He began his training at the Escola Comercial de Viseu, where he established a solid foundation for his career.

To enhance his skills, he completed several courses in mechanical drawing, AutoCAD, and Inventor. These qualifications have enabled him to develop exceptional expertise in technical drawing.

Since 1990, he has been a key member of the engineering department at Gruas SOIMA, where he has performed various roles, focusing particularly on technical drawing. His dedication and competence have been crucial to the success of the company’s projects.

Aquiles was born in Sátão and has always lived in Viseu, where he attended high school. He served as a pilot in the Portuguese Air Force and studied Mechanical Engineering at ISEC in Coimbra.

He began his professional career at Soima in 1985, initially working in the design, manufacturing, and assembly of metallic structures for pavilions. He later transitioned to the project, timing, and methods department. Since 1996, he has been responsible for production, preparation, planning, and procurement, a role he continues to hold.