Sergio Rial
Senior Adviser
Sergio Rial is a globally recognised financial leader with more than 30 years of experience spanning banking, agribusiness, energy, and aviation. He currently serves as Chairman of Vibra Energia, Brazil’s leading energy company, Vice Chairman of BRF S.A., a global food and agribusiness group, Chair of Ebury Partners, a fintech payments platform, and sits on the Global Board of The Nature Conservancy. His cross-sector leadership reflects a rare combination of strategic oversight, operational depth, and ESG-driven governance.
Previously, Sergio served as Chief Executive Officer of Banco Santander Brasil from 2016 to 2022, and as Chairman between 2022 and early 2023. He also held senior executive roles at Marfrig Global Foods and served as Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President at Cargill. Earlier in his career, he held investment banking leadership positions at ABN AMRO and Bear Stearns in New York. In January 2023, he briefly assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer at Americanas S.A., demonstrating resilience and executive steadiness during a complex corporate restructuring.
Holding degrees in Law and Economics, Sergio is fluent in six languages and has received repeated recognition for his influence within agribusiness and global finance. At Apolonia Capital, he brings transformational leadership, cross-border insight, and long-term value creation across the Americas, the GCC, Asia, and Europe.
Previously, Sergio served as Chief Executive Officer of Banco Santander Brasil from 2016 to 2022, and as Chairman between 2022 and early 2023. He also held senior executive roles at Marfrig Global Foods and served as Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President at Cargill. Earlier in his career, he held investment banking leadership positions at ABN AMRO and Bear Stearns in New York. In January 2023, he briefly assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer at Americanas S.A., demonstrating resilience and executive steadiness during a complex corporate restructuring.
Holding degrees in Law and Economics, Sergio is fluent in six languages and has received repeated recognition for his influence within agribusiness and global finance. At Apolonia Capital, he brings transformational leadership, cross-border insight, and long-term value creation across the Americas, the GCC, Asia, and Europe.