José Ferrão

As Chief Operating Officer, José Ferrão works to increase the efficiency of the organization’s operations to maximize United Way’s investments in creating lasting change in our community. A creative and strategic thinker, José emphasizes a responsible and effective management of community resources and the continuous pursuit of innovation that delivers value. In this role, José provides overall direction and leadership to the management of the organization in accordance with the goals and objectives set by the President and CEO and the strategic direction set by the Board.

José also serves as Senior Vice President of Marketing for United Way. As SVP of Marketing, José leads a team of professionals who work towards providing a voice to those that most need our help and give donors and volunteers a direct line of sight to the impact their contributions make in the community.

Having previously held executive positions in consumer packaged goods organizations in South Africa, José joined Peppers and Rogers Group’s Connecticut practice in 2000, where he played a leading role in the development of the first multi-channel customer relationship management pilot for Ford Division in the USA, as well as performed assessments and roadmaps for Ford Motor Company in Asia Pacific. However, the highlight of his work in the United States was the change management and enterprise-wide organizational design work he led at Boise Office Products which supported Boise’s win of Gartner's inaugural CRM Award of Excellence in 2001. More recently José led the growth of Peppers and Rogers Group in Europe and was president of Carlson Marketing Group’s Europe and Middle East operations.

José Ferrão is an international executive with proven ability to reposition and revitalize under-performing businesses, and lead successful organizations to their next level of growth. He is a problem-solver that leverages his strategic change skills and bottom-line focus to deliver sustainable results.