On 5th April 2021, K2 opened a new entity in São Paulo, Brazil, as a proactive response to growing client activity in Latin America.
Country Director, Patricia Tavares, was instrumental in the K2 Brazil launch. With over two decades of Global Mobility experience within the financial and consumer goods sectors, alongside a genuine passion for the GM industry and an in-depth understanding of local culture, Patricia was the perfect appointment to build K2 Brazil from the ground up, under the guidance of Americas Managing Director, Phil Hunt.
Over the last four years, both the K2 Brazil team and the region’s service offering have grown significantly. After launching in 2021, with just Patricia and one additional team member, they are now a team of twelve, working across Client Services and Immigration. Testament to the company culture, and K2 being a certified Great Place To Work® globally, K2 Brazil’s first hires are still a vital part of the local team.
In addition to being the year that the team began its initial growth, 2022 also saw the São Paulo office engage their first local clients, host a successful networking event for both clients and partners, and travel to Barcelona to attend K2’s Kinetic Conference with their global colleagues. Not only that, but it was in 2022, only their second year of being operational, that the K2 Brazil team began to consider the way in which they could have a positive impact beyond the relocation sector. In November of that year, plans were developed to support children in the São Paulo district of Parelheiros by rebuilding a dilapidated community school.
Though the plan evolved significantly, the goal remained the same: to be a powerful force for change and provide brighter futures to children attending the school. The new school opened in January 2025, after breaking ground in 2023. The local team were on hand to offer practical support throughout construction, with K2 colleagues around the globe coming together to raise funds for the K2 Foundation, collectively ensuring completion of the project.
Reflecting on the experiences of the last four years, Patricia comments:
“Opening the K2 Brazil office was one of the most daring moments of my professional life! There was a lot to get to grips with at the beginning, in terms of the office set-up process. Also, there was a big learning curve involved, as I needed to develop an understanding of things from the other side of the table and change my mind set to reflect the move across from in-house mobility to working alongside mobility teams as a service delivery partner.”
Patricia continues:
“Taking on the role of Country Director was exactly the development opportunity that I was looking for. Seeing how the Brazil business and team have grown since we opened in 2021, as well as the sense of accomplishment that has come with the completion of the school project, I couldn’t be prouder to be part of the K2 Family!”
On the benefits of the K2 Brazil office for the wider Americas region, Phil adds:
“From the outset, the São Paulo team have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional service and adapting to the unique needs of the LATAM market. This anniversary milestone is testament to their hard work, dedication, and deep understanding of the region.
K2 Brazil has proved to be an invaluable addition to K2’s global footprint; having this presence and abundance of expertise in LATAM has really helped us to strengthen our service delivery in the Americas and grow our regional client base.”
Phil expands
“It has been wonderful to see a portfolio of LATAM based clients build over the years, enabling the team to expand and develop far quicker than we had ever thought would be possible. The way in which the region has worked seamlessly in collaboration with the rest of the business is testament to the understanding and adoption of K2Q in LATAM.
As growth continues in this region, we are excited for what the future holds and will remain focused on supporting our clients with the same passion and commitment to excellence that has defined our journey so far.”
