Meirelles will be based in Sao Paulo, and advise senior management pertaining to significant business initiatives across the globe.
Lazard has also integrated its Brazilian operations, being run as a joint venture Signatura Lazard, although the firm said that Marcelo Lyrio and Jean Pierre Zarouk, founders of Signatura, will remain acting as managing directors and co-heads of Lazard’s Brazilian Investment Banking operations, based in Sao Paulo.
Lazard investment banking global head Antonio Weiss said the announcements underscore their belief in the current and future opportunities in Brazil, one of the world’s largest and most dynamic economies.
"We have known and admired Mr. Meirelles for many years. His perspective on the financial system and global economy will be invaluable to Lazard and our clients. We are also pleased to cement our relationship with our Sao Paulo partners after eight years of successful cooperation," Weiss said.
Prior to accepting his current position, Meirelles worked as president of Brazil’s Central Bank from 2003 through 2010, during which time he helped lead Brazil through a period of growth and prosperity.
Before that, he served as president of FleetBoston’s Corporate and Global Bank, and president of its predecessor BankBoston.
In 2004, the Signatura Lazard joint venture was established, which provided local and cross-border financial advisory services to a diversified client base.
