The Colombian industry has lost one of its most emblematic figures: Jose Maria Acevedo, founder of the renowned appliance brand Haceb. Acevedo passed away yesterday at the age of 106, leaving behind a long business career that built the appliance company that marked generations.
The news was confirmed through an official statement by the company itself, which expressed its deep sorrow and gratitude for the life and legacy of “Don Jose,” as he was affectionately known. Company sources emphasized in the announcement that Acevedo continued to visit Haceb’s main headquarters almost daily.
The veteran businessman leaves behind a long career that established him as one of Colombia’s most important entrepreneurs — a self-made man who began as a messenger in an appliance repair shop in the 1930s, until, in 1940, he opened his own business in a garage in downtown Medellin.
Jose Maria Acevedo, founder of Colombia’s iconic appliance brand Haceb, dies at 106
Jose Maria Acevedo was born on Aug. 2, 1919, in Medellin, into a modest family. His father, Pastor Acevedo, was a carpenter; his mother, Maria Alzate, a homemaker. From a young age, after completing only up to sixth grade, he took a job as a messenger in an electrical repair shop, which became his first direct experience with the technical and industrial world.
In 1940, at just 21 years old, equipped with a pair of pliers, two screwdrivers, and 25 square meters of garage space in Medellin, he founded his own electrical workshop. There began the seed of what, over the years, would become Haceb: From repairing appliances to designing and manufacturing mass-market household products.
The story of Haceb is inseparable from that of Don Jose Maria. Under his leadership and philosophy, the company grew until it consolidated a plant in Copacabana, Antioquia, covering nearly 300,000 square meters and producing millions of units each year for both the Colombian and regional markets.
But beyond industrial scale, Acevedo fostered a people-centered culture: “When you don’t have the opportunity to study, you’re condemned to study for the rest of your life,” he used to say — a phrase that became an internal motto of the organization. He himself, with incomplete formal education, studied electricity by correspondence to nurture his technical curiosity.
And even as the company grew, Don Jose Maria remained close to his workers: He toured the facilities, talked with employees, and kept the spirit of that young technician who learned by taking things apart. His vision of business was not only about producing, but about generating well-being and collective progress.
Haceb: A story of innovation and Colombian pride
Haceb is one of the most emblematic companies in Colombia’s industrial landscape. Founded 85 years ago in Medellin by the young Jose Maria Acevedo, the company began in a small workshop where they repaired stoves and refrigerators. Eight decades later, Haceb has become a benchmark in the manufacturing and marketing of household appliances in Colombia and several Latin American countries.
Its growth has been defined by innovation and a strong commitment to national talent. From the beginning, Haceb set out to offer high-quality products designed for Colombian homes, combining design, technology, and energy efficiency. Its portfolio covers a wide range of products, from refrigerators, washing machines, and stoves to water heaters and electric ovens.
One of the pillars that has sustained its success is loyalty to the values that inspired its founder: Well-done work, social responsibility, and commitment to the country’s development. The company has promoted technical training and environmental sustainability programs and maintains an active policy of labor inclusion and support for local communities.
At its main plant in Copacabana, Antioquia, Haceb employs thousands of workers and combines modern industrial processes with a human-centered management approach. In addition, it has strengthened its digital presence and after-sales service, adapting to new market trends.
Today, Haceb represents much more than a household appliance brand: It is a symbol of entrepreneurship, trust, and belonging. Its story proves that purposeful innovation and social commitment can go hand in hand to build a better future from Colombia.
A legacy that transcends his company
The news of Acevedo’s death, known this Tuesday morning, sparked a wave of recognition. In fact, Medellin’s mayor, Federico Gutierrez, highlighted that the country bids farewell to “a symbol of hard work, discipline, and love for Antioquia and Colombia.” For its part, Haceb, in its statement, affirmed that its purpose —“to generate well-being and progress for millions of Colombians”— will remain alive.
Acevedo’s legacy extends along several lines. First, the industrial one, as he turned a small workshop into an emblematic company of Colombia’s manufacturing sector, now operating in more than 20 countries. Second, the social one, as Acevedo promoted education, workplace well-being, and innovation as engines of growth. And finally, the inspirational one, as he stands today as a role model for entrepreneurs — the “dean of Antioquia’s industry,” as he is known in his homeland.
The passing of Jose Maria Acevedo closes an extraordinary chapter of dedication and hard work: That of the man who saw in a simple workshop the possibility of transforming homes, lives, and a region. In a Colombia marked by structural challenges, his story is proof that entrepreneurship, perseverance, and social vision can build something lasting.
Today, the Haceb brand is a symbol — a symbol of industry, of country, of trust — but above all, it is the human reflection of its founder.
In Medellin, his homeland, and throughout Colombia, it is said that his legacy lives on in every oven, refrigerator, or washing machine that bears his name, in every employee who works at Haceb, and in every young person who dreams of starting a business despite their initial circumstances. As he himself taught: Not having the opportunity to study is no excuse for not learning.
And although Jose Maria Acevedo will no longe drive through the facilities in his white doorless Renault 4 — as he used to — his legacy is clear: One of service, national talent, and common good.