Wise, the global technology company building the best way to move and manage the worldʼs money, has announced the appointment of former Western Union executive Ricardo Amaral as its new Head of Banking for Latin America and Country Manager for Brazil. This strategic hire is a key component of Wise's ambitious expansion in the Americas. It follows Wise's recent launch in the Mexican market and approval for direct connection to Brazil's Instant Payment System (SPI - infrastructure that enables Pix).
In his role, Amaral will oversee Wise’s operations in Brazil and lead the development and execution of the fintech’s business strategy across Latin America. He will be responsible for delivering the PIX integration and driving a highly localized growth strategy across all customer segments to further Wise's contributions to a faster, more convenient, and efficient international payment experience for Brazilians.
With over two decades of experience in financial services, Amaral's expertise developing services in markets with complex regulatory frameworks uniquely positions him to drive Wise’s growth in Latin America. Previously at Western Union, Amaral managed operations across Brazil, Chile, Panama, Colombia, among other countries, spearheading digitalization efforts and leading a team of over 300 professionals.
“I am thrilled to join Wise and contribute to the company’s mission of building the best way to move and manage money across borders,” said Amaral. “Having been here only a few weeks, I've already recognized the extensive knowledge and expertise within our local teams. I am eager to collaborate with them in Brazil and across Latin America, contributing to our growth in the Americas region.”
About Wise
Wise is a global technology company, building the best way to move and manage the world's money. With Wise Account and Wise Business, people and businesses can hold 40 currencies, move money between countries and spend money abroad. Large companies and banks use Wise technology too; an entirely new network for the world's money.
One of the world’s fastest growing, profitable tech companies, Wise launched in 2011 and is listed on the London Stock Exchange under the ticker, WISE.
In fiscal year 2024, Wise supported around 12.8 million people and businesses, processing approximately £118.5 billion in cross-border transactions, and saving customers over £1.8 billion.