Geraldo Melo
- March 6, 2022
- 86 years
About Geraldo Melo
Geraldo Melo, 86, Brazilian businessman and politician, senator (1995–2003), governor of Rio Grande do Norte (1987–1991), lung cancer.
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Full Biography
|Geraldo José da Câmara Ferreira de Melo (12 July 1935 – 6 March 2022) was a Brazilian businessman, politician and journalist.
Life and career
Geraldo worked as journalist until 1959, the year he graduated in economic development at United Nations' CEPAL. He was a founding member of Sudene, where he was appointed as head of the Basic Economic Activities department under the leadership of Celso Furtado. In 1961 he obtained a degree in economic development financing from CEMLA, in Mexico City, where he interned at the World Bank and the Inter-American Bank of Development. Later that year, Melo returned to Rio Grande do Norte to become the state's first development secretary during Aluízio Alves' government.
As a businessman, Geraldo Melo founded Adiplan, a consulting firm with offices located in Recife and at Spenser's House in London. His firm worked in partnership with the Economist Intelligence Unit and Tokyo-based Mitsou Consultants co. In the early 1970's Adiplan completed the merger and acquisition of two sugarcane mills, Usina São Francisco Açúcar e Álcool S/A and Usina Ilha Bela S/A, creating Companhia Açucareira Vale do Ceará-Mirim, one of the largest sugarcane refineries in Northeast Brazil. Melo was one of the founder of Natal's first shopping mall, Natal Shopping, as well as TV Potengi, currently known as TV Bandeirantes Rio Grande do Norte. He stepped down from executive positions held at the companies to pursue his political career.
While a member of the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party, he served as Governor of Rio Grande do Norte from 1987 to 1991. He served as Senator for Rio Grande do Norte, from 1995 to 2003, after switching to the Brazilian Social Democratic Party. During his tenure Melo was elected vice-president of the Brazilian Senate from 1997 to 2001. Geraldo represented the Brazilian Senate around the world, including at conferences at the Luxembourg Palace in Paris, and the Senate of the Republic in Rome.
Melo died of lung cancer and post COVID-19 complications in Natal on 6 March 2022, at the age of 86, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil.
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geraldo_Melo
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Geraldo Melo's archived record and the sources above.
1.Besides lung cancer, what other health condition was cited as a contributor to the death of Geraldo José da Câmara Ferreira de Melo?
- A.Post COVID-19 complicationscorrect
- B.Heart disease
- C.Age-related decline
- D.Economic stress
Geraldo José da Câmara Ferreira de Melo died of lung cancer and post COVID-19 complications.
Source: life and career section
2.What was the date of birth of Geraldo José da Câmara Ferreira de Melo?
- A.12 June 1935
- B.6 March 2022
- C.12 July 1938
- D.12 July 1935correct
Geraldo José da Câmara Ferreira de Melo was born on 12 July 1935.
Source: biographical introduction
3.In what city did Geraldo José da Câmara Ferreira de Melo obtain a degree from CEMLA in 1961?
- A.Paris
- B.Recife
- C.Mexico Citycorrect
- D.Natal
In 1961, Geraldo José da Câmara Ferreira de Melo obtained a degree in economic development financing from CEMLA, located in Mexico City.
Source: life and career section
4.Which organization did Geraldo José da Câmara Ferreira de Melo join as a founding member before leading the Basic Economic Activities department?
- A.Economist Intelligence Unit
- B.Sudenecorrect
- C.World Bank
- D.Inter-American Bank of Development
Geraldo José da Câmara Ferreira de Melo was a founding member of Sudene.
Source: life and career section
5.Where were the offices of Adiplan, the consulting firm founded by Geraldo José da Câmara Ferreira de Melo, located?
- A.Paris and Rome
- B.Recife and Londoncorrect
- C.Natal and Mexico City
- D.Brasilia and Tokyo
Geraldo José da Câmara Ferreira de Melo founded Adiplan, which had offices in Recife and at Spenser's House in London.
Source: life and career section
6.What is the current name of the television station formerly known as TV Potengi, which was founded by Geraldo José da Câmara Ferreira de Melo?
- A.TV Record
- B.TV Bandeirantes Rio Grande do Nortecorrect
- C.TV Sudene
- D.TV Globo
Geraldo José da Câmara Ferreira de Melo founded TV Potengi, which is currently known as TV Bandeirantes Rio Grande do Norte.
Source: life and career section
7.During which years did Geraldo José da Câmara Ferreira de Melo serve as the Governor of Rio Grande do Norte?
- A.1987–1991correct
- B.2003–2007
- C.1961–1965
- D.1995–2003
Geraldo José da Câmara Ferreira de Melo served as Governor of Rio Grande do Norte from 1987 to 1991.
Source: life and career section
8.Which political party did Geraldo José da Câmara Ferreira de Melo join when he served as a Senator from 1995 to 2003?
- A.Brazilian Democratic Movement Party
- B.Liberal Party
- C.Brazilian Social Democratic Partycorrect
- D.Workers' Party
Geraldo José da Câmara Ferreira de Melo served as Senator after switching to the Brazilian Social Democratic Party.
Source: life and career section
9.What role did Geraldo José da Câmara Ferreira de Melo perform in the Brazilian Senate between 1997 and 2001?
- A.President of the Senate
- B.Vice-president of the Senatecorrect
- C.Head of the Economic Activities department
- D.Development Secretary
During his senate tenure, Geraldo José da Câmara Ferreira de Melo was elected vice-president of the Brazilian Senate from 1997 to 2001.
Source: life and career section
10.Which two sugarcane mills were merged by Adiplan in the early 1970s?
- A.Usina São Francisco and Usina Ilha Belacorrect
- B.Usina Potengi and Usina Natal
- C.Usina Ceará and Usina Sudene
- D.Usina Vale and Usina Recife
Adiplan completed the merger and acquisition of Usina São Francisco Açúcar e Álcool S/A and Usina Ilha Bela S/A.
Source: life and career section
11.At what age did Geraldo José da Câmara Ferreira de Melo die?
- A.91
- B.82
- C.89
- D.86correct
Geraldo José da Câmara Ferreira de Melo died on 6 March 2022 at the age of 86.
Source: life and career section
12.In which city did Geraldo José da Câmara Ferreira de Melo pass away?
- A.Brasilia
- B.Recife
- C.Mexico City
- D.Natalcorrect
Geraldo José da Câmara Ferreira de Melo died in Natal on 6 March 2022.
Source: life and career section
13.Before entering politics, what was the primary profession of Geraldo José da Câmara Ferreira de Melo until 1959?
- A.Economist
- B.Television producer
- C.University professor
- D.Journalistcorrect
Geraldo José da Câmara Ferreira de Melo worked as a journalist until 1959.
Source: life and career section
14.Who did Geraldo José da Câmara Ferreira de Melo work under while at Sudene?
- A.Celso Furtadocorrect
- B.Aluízio Alves
- C.Mitsou Consultants
- D.The World Bank Director
Geraldo José da Câmara Ferreira de Melo was appointed as head of the Basic Economic Activities department under the leadership of Celso Furtado.
Source: life and career section
15.What is the full name of the company created by the merger of the two sugarcane mills?
- A.Companhia Açucareira Vale do Ceará-Mirimcorrect
- B.Companhia Natal Shopping
- C.Adiplan Sugarcane Consortium
- D.Usina São Francisco Açúcar e Álcool S/A
The merger created Companhia Açucareira Vale do Ceará-Mirim, one of the largest sugarcane refineries in Northeast Brazil.
Source: life and career section
16.Which international locations did Geraldo José da Câmara Ferreira de Melo visit as a representative of the Brazilian Senate?
- A.Luxembourg Palace in Paris and the Senate of the Republic in Romecorrect
- B.Tokyo and Recife
- C.World Bank in Washington and London
- D.Mexico City and Natal
Geraldo José da Câmara Ferreira de Melo represented the Brazilian Senate at conferences at the Luxembourg Palace in Paris and the Senate of the Republic in Rome.
Source: life and career section
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