World

Luís Onofre appointed CEC's President

Feb 13, 2019 CEC

APICCAPS President was appointed President of the European Confederation of the Footwear Industry (CEC). Entrepreneur and designer Luís Onofre will succeed the Italian Cleto Sagripanti and will take office by the end of May in Porto

Luís Onofre, now appointed as the new CEC's President, is the person heading APICCAPS, the Portuguese Footwear, Components, Leather Goods Manufacturers' Association, since May 2017. Onofre belongs to the third generation of a family working in the footwear industry,and has one of the most renowned Portuguese footwear brands, created in 1999. Focusing on elegant and sophisticated high heel women’ shoes the Luis Onofre brand exports 93% of their production to countries all over the world. Worldwide known celebrities, such as, Penélope Cruz, Naomi Watts, Michelle Obama, Laetizia Ortiz or Genoveva Casanova wear Luís Onofre shoes.

Graduated by the Faculty of Fine Arts in Porto, later Luís Onofre also graduated from the Professional Training Center for the Footwear Industry (now called Design and Footwear Academy). In 2014, the President of Portugal, Aníbal Cavaco Silva, distinguished him with the Order of Entrepreneurial Merit.

This is the second time a Portuguese entrepreneur takes over the CEC’s leadership. In 2001, Fortunato Frederico was the President of the European Confederation of the Footwear Industry for a period of two years.

About CEC

The European Confederation of the Footwear Industry (CEC) was created more than 30 years ago as THE VOICE of the European footwear industry in Brussels. It gathers footwear national associations and federations of the European Union, representing approximately 87% of the footwear production. With headquarters in Brussels CEC represents an industry counting with approximately 21 000 companies and over 278 000 jobs.

The European Confederation counts with 11 Member countries and 3 Observer countries, as per listing below.

CEC Members
AHLI - Association of Hungarian Light Industry
APICCAPS - Portuguese Footwear, Components, Leather Goods Manufacturers’ Association
Assocalzaturifici - Italian Footwear Manufacturers' Association
Association of Romanian Shoe Producers
BFA - British Footwear Association
COKA - Czech Footwear and Leather Association
ESELVIE - Hellenic Association of Footwear Manufacturers and Exporters
FFC - Fédération Française de la Chaussure
FICE - Federación de Industrias del Calzado Español
Finnish Shoe and Leather Association
PIPS - Polish Chamber of Shoe and Leather Industry
Swedish Federation of the Footwear Industry

CEC Observers
CNCC - Centre National du Cuir et de la Chaussure
TASD - Footwear Industrialist Association of Turkey
ULSY - Ukrainian Leather and Shoes Union

CEC Portugal Companies Footwear Organisations Shoes