Ricardo Rodrigues

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT RICARDO RODRIGUES

Early on at The PhoneHouse, I was assigned to work with a German counterpart who made it clear he didn’t want me on the project — I had been imposed by the London HQ, and he wasn’t thrilled. Fast forward two years, and not only had we built a solid partnership, but he personally invited me to join a meeting with his CEO… to offer me a position on the German team. I took it.That experience taught me everything about resilience, trust-building, and the power of showing up with results — values I’ve carried with me ever since.From auditing financial institutions in Lisbon to negotiating international partnerships in Riyadh, my career has always centered on the intersection of finance, strategy, and people. I’m driven by the challenge of solving complex problems across markets — and by the opportunity to build something impactful, whether that’s a new business line, a cross-border team, or a long-term partnership.I’m a multilingual Business Development Executive with 15+ years of experience in finance, strategic planning, and business expansion across Europe and the Middle East. With a strong foundation in financial reporting, controlling, and PMO leadership, I bring analytical depth to business growth — but what sets me apart is my ability to connect the dots between strategy, operations, and client needs. I work best in international environments, where adaptability, negotiation, and clarity are key.Throughout my career, I am proud to have:Spearheaded the internationalization of the Reify. brand, securing commercial contracts in Portugal, Spain, Italy, Germany, Poland, and other European markets within its first year.Led client acquisition efforts in Central & Eastern Europe and Saudi Arabia, positioning new services and forging strategic partnerships.Designed and rolled out corporate strategy initiatives at Sonae Sierra, presenting directly to the Board and aligning group-wide PMO efforts.Improved internal client satisfaction and reporting alignment at The PhoneHouse Portugal, bridging gaps between local operations and shared services.Managed multi-entity financial operations and teams across Germany, Portugal, and Belgium, covering IFRS and German GAAP reporting, tax, controlling, and refinancing.Outside of work, I volunteer as a mentor for students and enjoy board games and video games. I believe mentoring is one of the most rewarding ways to give back — and when I’m not working or mentoring, I’m often exploring strategy in another form: through game mechanics, puzzles, or a good story-driven campaign.