Leila Pereira
Leila Pereira | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 11, 1964 Cambuci, Brazil |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, attorney, journalist, sports executive |
| Known for | President of Palmeiras football club; head of financial institution Crefisa |
Leila Mejdalani Pereira (born November 11, 1964) is a Brazilian entrepreneur, attorney, journalist, and sports executive. She heads the financial institution Crefisa and has held the presidency of the football club Palmeiras since 2021.
Pereira’s connection with Palmeiras started in 2015 when Crefisa and Faculdade das Américas (FAM) became official sponsors of the club. Initially acting as an advisor, she later took on the role of president. During this sponsorship period, Palmeiras won two Copa Libertadores da América trophies and claimed three titles in the Campeonato Brasileiro.
In 2022, Forbes placed Pereira as the fifth wealthiest woman in Brazil.
Personal life
Born on November 11, 1964, in Cambuci, Pereira grew up in a middle-class family in Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro. Despite her father's opposition but with her mother's encouragement, she relocated to Rio de Janeiro to pursue higher education.
She pursued journalism studies at Estácio de Sá University and gained early experience as an intern at Rede Manchete, covering sports events such as the 1990 FIFA World Cup.
During her journalism program, she met businessman José Roberto Lamacchia, who founded Crefisa.
Subsequently, Pereira earned a law degree from Cândido Mendes University, moved to São Paulo in 1996, and established a law practice after an unsuccessful attempt to become a judge. She married Lamacchia in 1999.
Partnership with Palmeiras
Pereira's sponsorship involvement with Palmeiras began in 2015. One of Crefisa’s significant early investments was financing the transfer of striker Dudu for approximately 35 million reais.
In 2017, she became part of Palmeiras' board as an advisor and secured the highest number of votes (250) in the board election, bolstered by an endorsement letter from former president Mustafá Contursi.
To sustain their relationship, Crefisa allocated 70 tickets to Contursi; however, prosecutors suspected these were resold unlawfully. Although the investigation was closed due to insufficient evidence, this incident ended the partnership between Contursi and Crefisa.
Club Presidency
On 20 November 2021, Pereira was chosen as Palmeiras' 56th president, marking a historic milestone as the first woman to assume this role, having received 1,897 votes out of a total of 2,141. Her official tenure commenced on 15 December 2021. Soon after her appointment, Palmeiras celebrated victory in the 2021 Copa Libertadores da América.
During her inaugural year at the helm, Palmeiras triumphed in the 2022 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, Recopa Sudamericana, and Campeonato Paulista under Pereira's guidance. The women's squad achieved success by winning both the Libertadores and Campeonato Paulista titles. Meanwhile, the club’s youth teams earned honors in the São Paulo Junior Football Cup, Brazilian Under-20 Championship, and Brazilian Under-17 Championship.
Supporter Demonstrations at Palmeiras
Pereira encountered opposition from Palmeiras supporters, notably from the Mancha Alviverde group, primarily due to disputes over seating allocations at Allianz Parque and delays related to player acquisitions for the 2023 season. In June 2023, fans staged protests outside Crefisa's headquarters, ridiculing Pereira’s acquisition of a private aircraft. Subsequently, she secured a restraining order to protect herself from threats issued by organized fan leaders.
Acquisition of Arena Barueri
On 24 October 2023, Crefipar, under Leila Pereira's leadership, obtained the concession rights to operate Arena Barueri. The organization intends to invest up to $100 million across a 35-year period to develop the venue as an alternative home ground for Palmeiras matches when Allianz Parque is not available.