Guilherme Benchimol

Early Life

Guilherme Benchimol was born in Rio de Janeiro in 1976. He studied economics at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). Initially, Benchimol considered a career in medicine, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, but he was drawn to the potential of the financial sector.

Rise to Success

Benchimol's career began at 18 as an intern at a securities firm. He was later employed at a brokerage firm before founding XP Investimentos in 2001 at the age of 24 with Marcelo Maisonnave. Initially, the company focused on financial education and advisory services. Benchimol and Maisonnave started with limited capital and a small office, but XP quickly gained prominence. The company's growth was fueled by Benchimol's vision to make financial markets accessible to all Brazilians. He transformed XP into one of the largest investment platforms in Latin America. In 2021, he stepped down as CEO and became Chairman.

Key Business Strategies

Key strategies included a focus on financial education and a commitment to offering a wide range of investment products. Benchimol implemented a hybrid business model that combined technology-driven solutions with personalized customer service. XP also acquired other companies to expand its services and market reach, including acquisitions of Clear Corretora and Rico Corretora.

Philanthropy

Benchimol promotes financial literacy through XP Institute, offering free education to millions of Brazilians. XP also emphasizes corporate social responsibility.