During the third week of May, hundreds of Brazilian officials, executives, and experts are expected to gather in New York for the various events that make up “Brazil Week” — a series of meetings and conferences sponsored by institutions such as Banco Itaú, BTG Pactual, Bank of America, Citi, and J. Safra Group, among others.
They all take place before and after the Person of the Year Awards (POY), held annually since 1970 by the Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce. For the second year running, The Brazilian Report will be one of the supporting partners of the Brazil Summit, an in-person conference hosted by the Financial Times on the same day as the awards ceremony, May 15.
The main objective of all these events is to promote investment in Brazil. “[The week] is an important gathering of CEOs, CFOs, shareholders, businesspeople, and investors that enhances networking and the exchange of ideas and encourages business between Brazil and the U.S.,” says Simoni Morato, CEO of Safra National Bank of New York and president of the Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce.
Bringing decision-makers face-to-face with investors helps break down preconceptions and strengthen ties between local governments and international capital. Several governors of some of Brazil’s most populous and wealthy states, including São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, and Piauí, will sponsor and participate in the FT’s Brazil Summit.
A “neutral” venue in a foreign country allows them to meet on an equal footing with current and potential investors. The majority of Brazil Summit attendees work in management positions or above.
“The Brazil Summit has continued to grow in strength, facilitating connections between Brazilian and international CEOs, senior government officials, and financiers, while highlighting the policies, investment opportunities, and corporate strategies that will ensure Brazil maintains its position as the largest economy in Latin America,” says Orson Francescone, managing director of FT Live, the organization’s events division.
“The chamber and the FT have a partnership that predates the Brazil Summit and that was strengthened by the event. It brings top-notch panelists who seek to show Brazil from different angles, addressing economic and political aspects in addition to dealing with contemporary issues. It’s a must-attend event for investors,” says Ms. Morato.
Mr. Francescone explains that as Brazil assumes the presidency of the G20 in 2024 and hosts COP 30 in 2025, it has a historic opportunity to lead the global agenda for sustainable development. Discussions during the summit will focus on energy transition, sustainable agriculture, and new models for the Amazon, highlighting the central role the business sector is playing and will continue to play in shaping this agenda.
Leaders from key companies in these areas are already among the confirmed speakers, including Alexandre Baldy, CEO of BYD in Brazil, Ana Cabral Gardner, CEO of Sigma Lithium, and Pedro Vaquer Brunet, founding partner of Solatio, the largest developer of solar energy projects in Latin America.
“There will also be a focus on the Brazilian government’s renewed interventionism and activism in industrial policy, which is causing some alarm and concern among investors,” says Mr. Francescone, adding that the insights gained from these conferences are invaluable in shaping the understanding of the current landscape and potential future trends. “This content is then disseminated through our platforms and collaborations with key media partners such as The Brazilian Report, ensuring a wide reach and impact.”
The Brazilian Report’s CEO, Laura Quirin, and editor-in-chief, Gustavo Ribeiro, will be closely following these discussions. The news outlet was recently named a finalist for Best News Website in the WAN-IFRA 2024 Digital Media Americas Awards. The final results will be announced in April.
In last year’s edition, The Brazilian Report won the award for Best Newsletter for a small or local company. “This new nomination for Best News Website is proof that we are going from strength to strength in our quest to bring news about Brazil and Latin America to the world,” says Ms. Quirin.
POY’s chosen ones in 2024
Each year, the POY honors two outstanding leaders — one from Brazil and one from the U.S. — who are considered “instrumental in forging closer ties between the two nations.” Past recipients include Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Bill Clinton, Henrique Meirelles, and Henry Kissinger.
For the 2024 edition, Alexandre Birman, CEO and CCO of Arezzo&Co, which leads the largest branded fashion house in Brazil, will receive the 2024 Person of the Year Award from Brazil, and Wes Edens, co-founder and co-CEO of Fortress Investment Group, will be honored in the U.S.
Simoni Morato has participated in the event since the 1990s, and the POY gala has always been a staple of the Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce in New York. Among the most significant changes over the past few decades, she highlights the change in the name of the award, which used to be called “Man of the Year,” and the initiative to reward not only business leaders but also social leaders.
“The event became more comprehensive and diverse without losing its main characteristic of honoring leaders who bring the two countries closer together,” says Mr. Morato, the first female president of the Chamber in 53 years.
Last year, the Social Responsibility Award went to Amigos do Bem, an NGO founded by Alcione Albanesi, that transforms lives in Brazil’s northeastern sertão hinterlands, the country’s most impoverished region. Gerando Falcões, a social development ecosystem dedicated to interrupting poverty and transforming Brazil’s favelas, received the Community Impact Award.
Since 2011, proceeds from the POY gala have also been used for another worthy cause: funding postgraduate scholarships in the U.S. for Brazilian students, a program in partnership with Instituto Ling and the Lemann Foundation. Since its inception, the Person of the Year Scholarship Program has awarded 167 students.
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