Unilever’s potential exit from its Foods division could reshape Big Food, triggering supply‑chain shifts, leadership changes, and major competitive realignment.
Patrícia Paiva is a seasoned financial executive and former chief financial officer with financial and administrative oversight across Brazil and the Southern Cone. She has extensive business expertise and insight into the demands of leadership and the qualities that set high-performing leaders apart. Her current focus is helping clients build and develop high-caliber leadership teams and boards.
Professional Focus
- 30 years’ experience as a financial executive including CFO roles in multinationals and Brazilian companies
- Broad industry background including FMCG, distribution, agriculture, and automotive
- Large professional network across Brazil and the Southern Cone
- Extensive business expertise including corporate governance, business strategy and planning, financial analysis, risk management, change management, compliance, commercial and supply finance, corporate law, tax and accounting, treasury, audit, process improvement, and IT
- Certified board member, fiscal council member, and audit committee member
- Native Portuguese, fluent in English
Business Expertise
- Chief Financial Officer at DFS Holding S.A. (Delly´s Food Service), a Pátria portfolio company, São Paulo
- Chief Financial Officer at Heinz Brasil S.A. (Kraft Heinz), São Paulo
- Chief Financial Officer, Brazil and Southern Cone at Coty Brasil Comércio Ltda., São Paulo
- Executive Finance Director - South America at Cummins Brasil Ltda., Guarulhos
- Chief Financial Officer at J. Macêdo S.A., São Paulo
- Finance Director Brazil and Southern Cone at Reckitt Benckiser (Brasil) Ltda., São Paulo
- Chief Financial Officer at Sara Lee Cafés do Brasil Ltda. (now JDE), Barueri
- Finance Director at FMC Química do Brasil Ltda., Campinas
- Controller at Ceras Johnson Ltda., Rio de Janeiro; prior roles included Business Unit Manager - Hospital Segment and Financial Specialist
- Senior Consultant at McKinsey & Company, São Paulo
- Planning and Pricing Analyst at Shell Brasil S.A., Rio de Janeiro
- Financial Analyst at Banco Boavista S.A., Rio de Janeiro
Additional Expertise
- Consumer Products - FMCG
- Financial Services
- Agriculture
- Industrial
- Professional Services
- Private Equity
Areas of Expertise
Education & Certifications
- Bachelor’s degree in business administration from Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (FEA)
- MBA from Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (COPPEAD); study abroad at Bocconi University, Italy
- Executive master’s program in corporate law, Pontifícia Universidade Católica (PUC)
- Master’s program in corporate governance & capital markets for executive women, B.I. International, WCD, and Columbia University
- CFA Charterholder, CFA Institute
- Certified Audit Committee Member, Brazilian Institute of Corporate Governance (IBGC)
- Certified Fiscal Council Member, (IBGC)
- Certified Board Member, (IBGC)
Affiliations & Awards
- Director and Investment Committee Member, FMCPrev (1999-2001)
- Director and Investment Committee Member, ReckittPrev (2004-2007)
- Director and Investment Committee Member, CumminsPrev (2012-2015)
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