Key Takeaways
- Rafael Melo is the Co-founder and CFO of Crypto.com and Foris, with 15+ years of experience in finance, risk management, and mobile payments, mainly in Asia.
- Rafael began his career at Embraer in 1999, advancing to Division Controller for North America and Regional Finance Director for Asia-Pacific.
- In 2011, Rafael joined Mobile Payment Solutions, gaining experience in digital payments and financial tech.
Who Is Rafael Melo?
Rafael Melo is known for his roles as Co-founder and Chief Financial Officer at Crypto.com and Co-founder and CFO at Foris. With over 15 years of experience in finance, he has a strong background in risk management, compliance, and mobile payments, especially in Asia. In 2012, Rafael completed the Asian International Executive Programme at INSEAD.
He earned a Bachelor’s in Engineering from the Federal University of Minas Gerais between 1993 and 1998. He later got an MBA in Finance from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Early Career at Embraer
Rafael Melo started his career in March 1999 at Embraer, a world leader in aerospace. He began as an FP&A Specialist, SAP Implementation Team Leader, and Graduate Trainee in Brazil. Rafael handled financial planning and analysis in this role and helped with the SAP system setup. His skill in managing financial tasks quickly earned him a promotion within the company.
Division Controller at Embraer
In June 2002, Rafael became the Division Controller for North America, working at Embraer’s office in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. In this role, he managed the division’s finances, ensuring everything ran smoothly in an important market. His work helped Embraer grow across North America during this time.
Regional Finance Director at Embraer
From July to December 2006, Rafael worked as a Finance Manager at Embraer. In January 2007, he was promoted to Regional Finance Director for Asia-Pacific. In this role, Rafael handled Embraer’s finances in several Asian countries. He developed financial strategies and managed tasks like customer pilot training, aircraft sales, and technical services.
Leadership Roles in Customer Training
During his time at Embraer, Rafael gained experience in many areas. He worked on customer pilot training, aircraft sales and marketing, and technical services. These roles helped him understand the aviation industry and its finances worldwide, making him a well-rounded leader.
Transition to Mobile Payment Solutions
In December 2010, Rafael left Embraer to explore new opportunities in the tech industry. In January 2011, he joined Mobile Payment Solutions, a company supported by MasterCard. Rafael worked as a Business Finance Officer for more than three years, overseeing the company’s finances as it aimed to change the mobile payments industry. This role expanded his knowledge, especially in digital payments and financial technology.
CEO of Ensogo in Singapore
After working in mobile payments, Rafael became the CEO of Ensogo, a top e-commerce company in Singapore. In this role, he gained important experience in managing an e-commerce business, focusing on growth and improving operations. His time at Ensogo helped him better understand the tech and digital marketplace.
Co-founder and CFO at Crypto.com
In 2016, Rafael co-founded Crypto.com and became the Chief Financial Officer. His work at Crypto.com has played an important role in developing its financial plan, supporting its growth, and helping it become a key player in the cryptocurrency and financial technology industries. As CFO, Rafael keeps working to guide Crypto.com’s growth and success in the worldwide digital finance sector.
Strategic Partnerships and Market Expansion
Rafael has been important in forming key partnerships with big companies, including payment networks, banks, and crypto exchanges. These partnerships have helped Crypto.com grow its products and increase its presence in digital finance. His leadership has been key in handling regulatory issues and preparing the company for long-term growth in established and new markets.
Role in Shaping Crypto.com’s Financial Products
Rafael has played a key role in creating and improving Crypto.com’s financial products. From crypto cards to lending and savings accounts, his knowledge of finance has helped create products that connect traditional banking with cryptocurrency. His work has made Crypto.com a go-to place for users to manage their digital assets easily.
Melo’s Vision
Rafael Melo’s vision is to use cryptocurrency and blockchain technology to improve global financial systems, making them more accessible and inclusive. At Crypto.com, he focuses on making digital finance easy, secure, and innovative for everyone while promoting environmental responsibility and financial education. He aims to help people, especially in underserved areas, manage and grow their digital assets and ensure that crypto can be part of a fairer global economy.
Final Thoughts
Rafael Melo has had a successful career in different industries, from aerospace to digital finance. His experience in finance and mobile payments has been key to Crypto.com’s growth. By building partnerships and creating new products, Rafael helped make Crypto.com a leader in digital finance. His goal is to make financial systems fairer and more accessible to everyone.
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