Early Life
Ricardo Villela Marino was born in São Paulo, Brazil, in 1974. He is part of a prominent banking dynasty, the Villela family, who founded Itaú Unibanco. Growing up, he was influenced by his family's values, including the importance of ethical conduct and community involvement. He is the grandson of Eudoro Libânio Villela, who co-founded Banco Itaú in 1945.
Rise to Success
Marino's career began outside of Itaú at Crédit Commercial de France (CCF) and Banco Garantia. He then joined Goldman Sachs Asset Management, managing portfolios for Emerging Markets in New York and London. In 2002, he was invited by Roberto Setubal, then president of Itaú, to start Itaucard. He played a key role in the merger of Itaú and Unibanco, and also led the bank's expansion strategy in Latin America. He served as CEO for Itaú Latam operations and later became the Vice Chairman of Itaú Unibanco and Chairman of the bank's Latin America Strategic Council.
Key Business Strategies
Marino's focus has been on innovation and expanding Itaú Unibanco's presence in Latin America. He spearheaded the development of the bank's strategy in the region, seeking growth opportunities and integrating technology to improve client services. His strategies include merging technology with traditional values of service and integrity.
Philanthropy
Marino is also dedicated to social impact. He is the President of Instituto PDR, a Sao Paulo-based non-profit organization that focuses on catalyzing social and civic entrepreneurship among young people.
