José Manuel Barroso

Barroso began his professional career in academia, serving as an assistant professor at the University of Lisbon and a visiting professor at Georgetown University. He entered Portuguese politics within the Social Democratic Party, holding several cabinet positions including Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1992 to 1995. In 2002, he was appointed Prime Minister of Portugal, a role he held until 2004.

In 2004, the European Council nominated him as President of the European Commission. He served two consecutive five-year terms in this position, overseeing the implementation of the Lisbon Treaty and the response to the 2008 financial crisis. His tenure concluded in October 2014, making him one of the longest-serving leaders of the European executive branch.

Following his political career, Barroso returned to the private and academic sectors. In 2016, he was appointed non-executive chairman and senior advisor at Goldman Sachs International. He has also held roles at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva and served as the chair of the board for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.