Carlos Lessa
Carlos Francisco Theodoro Machado Ribeiro de Lessa, better known simply as Carlos Lessa (30 July 1936 – 5 June 2020) was a Brazilian economist and professor.[1][2]
Carlos Lessa | |
|---|---|
 | |
| President of the Brazilian Development Bank | |
| In office January 2003 – November 2004 | |
| President | Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva |
| Preceded by | Eleazar de Carvalho Filho |
| Succeeded by | Guido Mantega |
| Rector of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro | |
| In office July 2002 – March 2003 | |
| Preceded by | José Henrique Vilhena de Paiva |
| Succeeded by | Sergio Eduardo Longo Fracalanzza |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 30, 1936 Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| Died | June 5, 2020 (aged 83) Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| Children | Rodrigo Lessa |
| Alma mater | Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (BS) Conselho Nacional de Economia (MS) University of Campinas (DSc) |
| Profession | Economist, professor |
Life and career
Born on 30 July 1936, in Rio de Janeiro, to a wealthy family, Lessa studied at private schools in his native city.[2]
In 1959, he graduated in economics at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and later got a Master's degree at Conselho Nacional de Economia. In 1980 he finished his doctor's degree in Human sciences at University of Campinas.[2][3]
Lessa worked as a professor at Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and at the Rio Branco Institute, the Brazilian diplomatic graduate school.[1]
In 2002, Lessa was elected Rector of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. It was his post for a brief period of time between July 2002 and March 2003.[3]
In 2003, Lessa was appointed President of the Brazilian Development Bank by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. His tenure lasted from January 2003 to November 2004 and his resignation was a result of multiple disagreements over economic policies with Central Bank of Brazil President Henrique Meirelles and Minister of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade Luiz Fernando Furlan[1][2][4]
Personal life and death
Lessa was a huge fan of Brazilian Carnival and founded Minerva Assanhada, a Carnival block composed mostly of Federal University of Rio de Janeiro students and personnel.[1] Lessa's son, Rodrigo Lessa is a singer-songwriter and Multi-instrumentalist.[3]
Lessa died from complications of COVID-19 in Rio de Janeiro on 5 June 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil at the age of 83.[1]
References
- "Morre o economista Carlos Lessa, ex-reitor da UFRJ e ex-presidente do BNDES". G1. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
- Wolfart, Graziela; Vargas, Greyce; Kley, Rafaela. "EDIÇÃO 344 21 SETEMBRO 2010 Carlos Lessa". Instituto Humanitas Unisinos. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
- "UFRJ decreta luto oficial por três dias pela perda de Carlos Lessa". Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. Archived from the original on June 10, 2020. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
- "Carlos Lessa deixa a presidência do BNDES". Folha de S.Paulo. Retrieved June 10, 2020.