Rodrigo Meirelles

Professional Background

Rodrigo Meirelles is an accomplished global Product Officer with over 18 years of extensive experience in the Consumer Electronics, Telecom, and Technology sectors. He has established a remarkable career as a decisive leader, driving growth and innovation in both corporation and entrepreneurial settings. Rodrigo is known for his ability to tackle complex business challenges by harnessing the strengths of great teams, fostering a culture of teamwork, and believing firmly in the power of collective intelligence. His experience crosses numerous roles, including Vice President, General Manager, and Senior Director roles in various high-profile organizations.

Throughout his career, Rodrigo has successfully overseen high growth and turnaround business situations, showcasing his strong analytical capabilities. His swift ability to identify strengths, weaknesses, and roadblocks has made him adept at developing and executing practical solutions, which not only optimize operations but also enhance profitability. His experience spans product and price rationalization, budgeting, expense control, continuous process improvement, strategic planning, and team-building initiatives which reflects his comprehensive understanding of the market and operational dynamics in his field.

Rodrigo's career trajectory includes pivotal roles at a variety of international organizations such as Visa, Nokia, and Medcenter Solutions. His role as Executive Vice President of New Business Ventures, Innovation, and Partnerships at WEX demonstrates his commitment to blending innovation with operational excellence. Furthermore, his earlier tenure at Visa saw him lead digital business strategy across the Latin America and Caribbean regions, where his efforts significantly advanced Visa's product offerings and market penetration.

In addition to his corporate leadership, Rodrigo has cultivated a passion for supporting start-ups and turning around struggling enterprises. His entrepreneurial spirit shines through ventures like Nutecnet and Medcenter, where he played key roles leading to significant acquisitions, including a US$9M acquisition by Telefonica and US$8M from WebMD. As a market maker, operator, and investor, his versatility positions him uniquely to navigate the ever-evolving technological landscape. He excels in building and retaining highly dedicated teams and distributor networks, leading to a successful business development trajectory in every organization he’s been part of.

Education and Achievements

Rodrigo prides himself on his strong educational background, having pursued advanced studies at some of the most prestigious institutions globally. He studied Product Management at the University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business, and Design Thinking at Stanford University, which have allowed him to develop innovative approaches to product strategy and development. He further honed his leadership capabilities with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Harvard Business School and studied Strategy Development at the London Business School.

His foundational education includes a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and an Associate’s Degree in Information Technology from Colégio Pedro II. The comprehensive education received at these institutions has equipped him with both technical expertise and the strategic mindset necessary to navigate today’s dynamic business environment.

Rodrigo's accomplishments extend beyond his formal education, as he actively participates in knowledge-sharing platforms and organizations. His previous roles include being an Advisor for Accelerated Growth and International Programs at SingularityU Brazil and Chair of the W3C Automotive Web Payments Task Force, showcasing his commitment to contributing to industry standards and technological advancements.

Achievements

• Leadership in Global Corporations: Rodrigo has held significant leadership roles at multinational companies, positively impacting their respective business strategies and operational functions.

• Entrepreneurial Success: Instrumental in the successful startups Nutecnet and Medcenter, leading to substantial acquisitions by major players like Telefonica and WebMD.

• Digital Transformation: As the Head of Digital Business for Visa in Latin America and the Caribbean, Rodrigo played a crucial role in shaping the digital strategy, enhancing product offerings and expanding market reach.

• Recognition and Influence: His past positions, including Technology Marketing Director at Nokia and various senior roles at Visa, underline his influential presence and thought leadership in the technology and telecommunications domains.

• Multilingual Communication: Fluent in English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese, Rodrigo's communication skills allow him to effectively engage with cross-cultural teams and global stakeholders.