João Rato is a senior executive with more than 25 years of experience across Europe and Asia. Fluent in Mandarin, English, French, and Spanish, he is deeply integrated into the Asian business ecosystem. He has maintained a close connection with Macau since 1984, when he first moved there.

He began his professional career at Mota-Engil before joining Barclays Bank. He later completed an International MBA in Ireland. Subsequently, he joined the International Department of Banco Espírito Santo, where he further developed his international career, working directly on the international expansion of Portuguese companies, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), trade finance operations, and foreign investment projects involving Portugal.

In 2013, he returned to Macau and joined a financial institution that was later acquired by a group of Chinese investors from the Greater Bay Area, becoming part of Well Link Bank, S.A. In this role, he serves as a bridge between Western and Chinese business cultures, with a particular focus on fostering business development between China, Macau, and Portuguese-speaking markets.

Throughout his career, he has combined international business development and institutional partnerships with a strong commitment to entrepreneurship and innovation. He serves as Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Association of Macau, China and Portuguese-speaking Countries, and is actively involved in various related initiatives. He has served as a jury member for the 929 Start-up Challenge and represents the Macau Angels Network.

In parallel, he remains actively engaged in Macau’s cultural life. He is Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Halftone Cultural Association, co-editor and co-author of the photography book Macau, My Story (2022), and a founding member of the editorial team of Halftone Magazine. He regularly participates in local radio and television programmes, including the economics programme China 360°, and is a frequent guest speaker at conferences and forums.

Academically, he has university teaching experience, having lectured at the University of Saint Joseph and the Macao Polytechnic University in the fields of international management, negotiation, and relations between China and Portuguese-speaking countries.

João M. Rato has been Portugal’s World Advisor since June 2026.