Vistage Builds on CEO Peer Advisory success in Brazil with new owner and CEO

CEO Coaching and peer advisory organization to grow its presence in Brazil, after nearly three decades of helping CEOs make better decisions

San Diego, CA (August 1, 2022) — Vistage, the world’s largest CEO coaching and peer advisory organization for small and midsize businesses, today announced new ownership and leadership in Brazil as it continues to  bring peer advisory groups to more business leaders across the globe. Vistage, which was founded in the U.S. in 1957, first launched in Brazil in 1996.

Fidu Gonzalez, who founded Vistage Paraguay in 2017, will be the new Owner of Vistage Brazil. Guto Pedreira has been named the CEO. Vistage Chairs Rubén Mujica and Ricardo Maiztegui have been selected to advise the new leadership team as well.

Vistage brings together groups of high-performing CEOs through a proven leadership experience that delivers results both personally and professionally. When leaders come together in their confidential Vistage private advisory board meetings, they gain the perspective, clarity and support to become better leaders and accelerate their company’s growth. Vistage’s 45,000+ members worldwide have access to expert speakers, personalized coaching sessions, and international networking. Under the guidance of their Chair –an accomplished former CEO dedicated to helping others grow–members come together to share expertise, challenge one another to think critically and arrive at better decisions.

Fidu Gonzalez co-founded social enterprise Koga in 2012, helping entrepreneurs and providing education to business executives. In 2017, he co-founded Vistage Paraguay. A few years later he and a group of local investors purchased the Universidad Comunera, which provides affordable, global and inclusive education. Today, he serves on the board of Teletón, Techo, Teach for Paraguay and the Red de Inversores Ángeles del Paraguay. He holds a degree in Economics from the Catholic University of Asunción, a Master’s degree in Marketing and Business Management from the American University and has studied Marketing Events at New York University.

Vistage Brazil’s new CEO Guto Pedreira has been an executive in the cosmetics industry for more than 25 years in Latin America. For 10 years Guto held many roles at L’Oréal Paris, including Product Manager and Brand Director. For the next 15 years he worked at Natura & CO, a Brazilian direct sales company and entrepreneurial family business, where he became CEO of Natura Chile and Vice President of the business in Brazil. He also served as CEO of the Brazilian operation of Jafra Cosmetics for two years, during which he successfully turned around the company and prepared the company for sale to local investors.

Gonzalez said, “I am excited to bring a renewed focus to Vistage Brazil by giving more CEOs access to diverse, objective perspectives from peers in a confidential environment to help them solve problems. Under Guto’s leadership, we see increased opportunities to reach new markets and help more business leaders. He brings to Vistage Brazil his entrepreneurial spirit as well as many years of management experience as a top leader with deep understanding of executives’ needs and Brazilian business culture.”

Andy Perkins, Vistage Vice President of International Business Development, shared, “We see great potential for increased growth in Brazil’s dynamic business environment at this critical juncture. Fidu’s proven track record with Vistage Paraguay showcases his deep commitment to supporting Vistage’s purpose of helping high integrity leaders make great decisions that impact their families, companies and communities. Now, we are thrilled to watch him and Guto apply the same level of passion to Brazil. We are deeply grateful for the foundation Luiz Ferrão has built helping leaders in Brazil over the past 26 years, and look forward to bringing Vistage peer advisory groups to even more business leaders in Brazil in the future.”

If you are interested in becoming a Vistage Chair or member in Brazil visit: https://vistage.com.br/ to learn more.

About Vistage Worldwide, Inc.
Vistage is the world’s largest CEO coaching and peer advisory organization for small and midsize businesses. For more than 65 years, we’ve been helping CEOs, business owners and key executives solve their greatest challenges through confidential peer groups and one-to-one executive coaching sessions. Today, more than 45,000 members in 35 countries rely on Vistage to help make better decisions for their companies, families and communities. The results prove it: Vistage CEO members grew their annual revenue on average by 4.6% in 2020, while nonmembers with comparable small and midsize businesses saw revenue decrease by 4.7%, according to a study of Dun & Bradstreet data. Learn more at vistage.com.

Media Contact
Katie McWeeney | Vistage
858.523.6875 | katie.mcweeney@vistage.com