WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Brazil-U.S. Business Council, an affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, announced today that effective January 1, 2022, Roberto Azevêdo, Executive Vice President, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer and Chairman of Board of Directors, PepsiCo Foundation will serve as the Council’s new Chair. Additionally, the Council announced that Carlos Murillo, Regional President for Latin America at Pfizer, will serve as Vice Chair – effectively immediately.
“PepsiCo and Pfizer have been imperative to Brazil’s economic recovery and building a sustainable, inclusive future. We welcome Roberto Azevêdo and Carlos Murillo into these leadership roles for the Council,” said Cassia Carvalho, executive director of the Brazil-U.S. Business Council. “The Council is a key platform for strategic government-to-business dialogues, and I am confident that our new leadership will provide valuable guidance in strengthening economic cooperation on behalf our members and nations.”
Azevêdo will succeed Ernesto Torres Cantú, CEO of Citi Latin America, who will remain Chair until the end of 2021 and then a member of the Board. Torres has led the Council during an important and critical time in U.S.-Brazil relations, which under his leadership has seen the signing of the 2020 U.S.-Brazil Protocol on Transparency and Trade Rules, as well as a transition in U.S. government and priorities.
“It is an honor to take over as the new Chair of the Council and I hope to contribute to the strengthening of business cooperation and the enhancement of the bilateral dialogue between the two countries" said Azevêdo. “Brazil is an incredibly dynamic country, and the Council has a real opportunity to support inclusive economic growth as well as improve the healthcare scenario, which has been proven to be a pillar to a sustainable society,” said Murillo.”
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Brazil-U.S. Business Council is made up of the world’s leading multinational corporations interested in enhancing the bilateral economic relationship between both countries. Advocating free trade, free markets and free enterprise, the Council works closely with its members, representing them in promoting public policy goals before the Brazilian and U.S. governments. Members represent a variety of industries, including agriculture, banking and financial services, consumer goods, defense, energy, healthcare, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and technology, among others. The Council collaborates with members to devise cross-cutting and sector specific agendas and support public policies that enhance the bilateral relationship.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations. Its International Affairs division includes more than 70 regional and policy experts and 25 country- and region-specific business councils and initiatives. The U.S. Chamber also works closely with 117 American Chambers of Commerce abroad.
