Departures of note

João Jacob Vontobel was a Brazilian businessman and founder of Vonpar, a major food and beverage company that became one of Brazil's principal Coca-Cola bottlers. Born in Ijuí, Rio Grande do Sul, on 14 March 1929, he began his entrepreneurial career in 1948 in the food and beverage sector, becoming a Coca-Cola franchisee in 1963.

Under his leadership, Vonpar grew into one of the country's most significant Coca-Cola bottling operations before being sold to the Mexican company Femsa. The Vontobel family also maintained interests in food brands including Neugebauer, MuMu, and Wallerius.

Considered the oldest billionaire in Brazil, Vontobel had a fortune estimated at R$ 3 billion and appeared on Forbes' 2026 ranking. He died in Rio Grande do Sul on 19 September 2026 at the age of 97.