Leila Pereira

Leila Pereira, born Leila Mejdalani Pereira on November 11, 1964, is a Brazilian businesswoman and football executive best known as president of Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras. In November 2021, Palmeiras members elected her to succeed Maurício Galiotte, and she assumed office the following month. She was the first woman to become Palmeiras president in the club's history. Her arrival followed years in which she had become one of the institution's most visible financial partners and political figures. She won a second presidential mandate in November 2024, securing authority to continue leading Palmeiras through 2027, under the club's member election system again. Pereira is closely associated with Crefisa, the credit company that has appeared on Palmeiras's shirts since 2015, and with Faculdade das Américas, or FAM. Both companies are linked to her and her husband, businessman José Roberto Lamacchia. The sponsorship made her a highly recognizable figure among supporters long before her presidency. During her administration, Palmeiras continued a model combining major commercial revenue, academy development, and high-value transfers. The club also retained coach Abel Ferreira, whose work had already produced major trophies before she took office. Pereira has repeatedly treated sporting competitiveness and financial discipline as connected priorities in public statements. Her first full presidential cycle included notable first-team results. Palmeiras won the 2022 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A and defended that national title in 2023, becoming Brazilian champions in consecutive seasons. The club also won the Campeonato Paulista in 2022, 2023, and 2024, the 2022 Recopa Sudamericana, and the 2023 Supercopa do Brasil. These achievements were delivered by teams coached by Ferreira during Pereira's tenure, although Palmeiras's 2021 Copa Libertadores triumph preceded her assumption of the presidency. This chronology is important: she was elected after the final in Montevideo, where Palmeiras beat Flamengo 2–1 after extra time; therefore the victory pre-dated her. Pereira has also been a consequential figure in debates about club governance. Her close connection to Palmeiras's principal sponsor has drawn scrutiny from rivals and some supporters, while she has argued that contracts and decisions must be assessed through formal club bodies. She is known for direct, often combative public communication, particularly when defending Palmeiras against criticism from other football institutions or media outlets. In 2022, Palmeiras's women's team won the Copa Libertadores Femenina, adding an international title during her presidency. The same period also saw the club invest in its academy and maintain a prominent role in Brazilian football.