About Ricardo
Experienced executive with over 20 years of expertise in strategy, business development, transformation, and mergers and acquisitions, spanning both corporate and strategic consultancy environments. Possessing an international profile, I have successfully worked in diverse companies and teams across Portugal, UK, Italy, France, and Angola.
Over the past 5 years being focused in launching a new company that aims to deliver innovative and sustainable ingredients through the power of science for a healthier tomorrow
I am recognized by the creative out-of-box thinking, strategic mindset, team leadership and drive.
Portuguese
Native or bilingual
English
Native or bilingual
Spanish
Basic
Can work on-site
Porto (up to 50km)
Experience
- RFC consultingManaging directorOctober 2025 - Today (10 months)Independent strategy and operating partner advising private equity firms and growth-stage companies internationally.Engagements span commercial and strategic due diligence, value creation planning, transformation, and M&A advisory, alongside interim and fractional executive roles.Brings dual-sided PE experience: building investment theses and executing them operationally as interim CEO and operating partner.Sector depth in natural ingredients, food and nutraceuticals, and digital health, underpinned by a PhD in neuroscience and 20+ years across McKinsey, Sonae, and Sparkfood.
- SparkfoodMember of the Executive committeeOctober 2020 - September 2025 (4 years and 11 months)Sonae, Maia, PO, PortugalAreas responsible for: M&A, Strategy, Transformation, R&D.• Design strategy and drive the implementation for a new business on natural ingredients for the human nutrition & wellbeing, based on high valuable clinical backed ingredients. From 0 to 85M€ turnover.• Define and drive the M&A program from origination to investment (over 30 processes), that resulted in c300M€ invested in 3 assets (France, Italy, UK);• Define and drive the implementation of the value creation plan (transformation plan) for each invested asset;• Assume interim management positions in the portfolio companies;• Support portfolio companies in commercial business development;
- Evra extractsHead of R&D (Interim)July 2024 - March 2025 (8 months)Italy• Define organization and core innovation processes;• Recruit new head of R&D;• Define strategy and therapeutic areas priorities for new product development;• Define and launch R&D development of 4 new products (from preclinical to clinical trials);
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Education
- High Performance Leadership,IMD2022High Performance Leadership,
- Developing Strategy for Value Creation,London Business School2014Developing Strategy for Value Creation,