Vítor Bento
Vítor Augusto Brinquete Bento | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 25, 1954 Estremoz, Portugal |
| Occupation(s) | Economist, banking executive, professor |
| Years active | 1980–present |
| Known for | CEO of Novo Banco (August–September 2014) |
Vítor Augusto Brinquete Bento (born June 25, 1954, in Estremoz) is a prominent figure in Portuguese banking. He held the position of CEO at Novo Banco from August 4, 2014, until his departure on September 13, 2014, after which Eduardo Stock da Cunha assumed the role.
Education
Bento earned his economics degree from the School of Economic and Financial Sciences at the Technical University of Lisbon and completed a Master's degree in Philosophy at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of the Catholic University of Portugal.
Professional activity
Beginning his career in 1980, Bento joined Banco de Portugal as an economist within the Economic Studies Department. By 1985, he advanced to lead the Foreign Department and also served as executive director of the Issuing Institute of Macao (currently known as the Monetary Authority of Macao). Upon returning to Banco de Portugal in 1989, he was promoted to Director of the Foreign Department by 1993.
Between 1989 and 1994, he contributed to the Exchanges Policy Subcommittee under the Central Banks Governor Committee within the European Community. In 1994, Bento transitioned to the Ministry of Finance where he fulfilled roles including General Director of Treasury, President of Junta de Crédito Público, and membership in the European Monetary Committee.
In 1996, he established and became the inaugural President of Agência de Gestão da Tesouraria e da Dívida Pública (IGCP), responsible for managing Portugal’s treasury operations, funding strategies, and public debt. He was appointed President of SIBS – Sociedade Interbancária de Serviços SA in 2000, a position he maintained until July 2014 when he joined Banco Espírito Santo’s board.
His leadership experience extends to presidencies at UNICRE and SEDES – Association for Economic and Social Development (2006–2008), a directorship at Visa, and a non-executive director role at Galp Energia from 2012 to 2014. In December 2009, Bento was appointed by President Cavaco Silva to the State Council, a post he vacated in July 2014.
Additionally, he serves as a visiting professor at both the Faculty of Economics and Business at the Catholic University of Portugal and Nova School of Business and Economics.
Awards and nominations
On June 28, 2005, Vítor Bento received the distinction of Grande-Oficial da Ordem do Infante D. Henrique.
Publications
Vítor Bento has published five works centered on economics and international markets:
- Os Estados Nacionais e a Economia Global (2004), Almedina
- Perceber a Crise para Encontrar o Caminho (2009), Bnomics
- O Nó Cego da Economia (2010), Bnomics
- Economia, Moral e Política (2011), Fundação Francisco Manuel dos Santos
- Euro forte, Euro fraco - Duas culturas, uma moeda. Um convívio (im)possível? (2013), Bnomics