It is with great sadness that we learned on Friday of the passing of our good friend Ronaldo da Frota Nogueira in Brazil. IR Magazine first met Ronaldo with his son Ronnie in New York in the mid-1990s, where we were immediately struck by his passion for investor relations – so much so that it led to us launching the Latin America Awards (later to become the IR Magazine Awards – Brazil).
Ronaldo launched RI, the definitive publication for capital markets and IR in Brazil, and was an economist, board member and founder of Ibri, the Brazilian Institute of Investor Relations. Many of us in the capital markets today owe a debt of gratitude for the foresight Ronaldo had in helping to shape today’s capital markets and there is surely not a person in the industry who does not recognize his accomplishments as he helped carve out the modern market in Brazil and beyond.
When IR Magazine developed our awards in Brazil, going to meetings with Ronaldo was like travelling with a rock star; his wise words, wisdom and wry humor always led the way. He was a giant of a man and our heartfelt sympathies go to his wife Tita, children Ronnie (publisher of RI), Rik and Marian, and his wider family.
He will be greatly missed.