Grupo Poma
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. The group is currently led by Fernando Poma. Its business activities include automobile dealerships, real estate development, industrial manufacturing, and hotels, as well as investments in telecommunications and various non-profit organizations.
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.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.
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.