Brazil Central Bank's former President Henrique Meirelles new Finance Minister

New Finance Minister Henrique Meirelles, 70, headed Brazil's Central Bank from 2003 to 2011, during both mandates of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in the presidency. Before holding the office, Meirelles was president of Global Banking, the FleetBoston Financial and global president of BankBoston.

Meirelles faced a high inflation scenario, which had closed 2002 at 12.53%. In the first year of his administration, inflation stood at 9.3%. In 2011, he managed to keep inflation at 6.5%, within the target ceiling.

When taking over the Finance Ministry now, Meirelles will face another reality: above-target inflation, growing public debt and loss of Brazil's investment grade. On the other hand, international reserves remain high, currently at about $376.3 billion.

Discreet in his personal life, Henrique Meirelles has been married to psychiatrist Eva Missine since 2000.

Meirelles was member of the Harvard Kennedy School Council of Government, of the Sloan School of Management from MIT, of the Carroll School of Management at Boston College, as well as a board member of the New England Conservatory of Music and the Boston Institute of Contemporary Art.

Currently Meirelles chairs the J & F Board of Directors, owner of the Original Bank, JBS, Vigor. He is also a member of the Azul Airlines Board of Directors.

Translated by Amarílis Anchieta