Carlos Lessa

Carlos Francisco Theodoro Machado Ribeiro de Lessa, better known simply as Carlos Lessa (30 July 1936 – 5 June 2020) was a Brazilian economist and professor.

In 1959, he graduated in economics at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and later got a Master's degree at Conselho Nacional de Economia. In 1980 he finished his doctor's degree in Human sciences at University of Campinas.

In 2003, Lessa was appointed President of the Brazilian Development Bank by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. His tenure lasted from January 2003 to November 2004 and his resignation was a result of multiple disagreements over economic policies with Central Bank of Brazil President Henrique Meirelles and Minister of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade Luiz Fernando Furlan

Personal life and death Lessa was a huge fan of Brazilian Carnival and founded Minerva Assanhada, a Carnival block composed mostly of Federal University of Rio de Janeiro students and personnel.