Rotary International President-elect Mário César Martins de Camargo Resigns
Rotary International has announced the resignation of President-elect Mário César Martins de Camargo, who was slated to serve as the global organisation’s president for the 2025-26 Rotary year.
In a letter dated June 8 to Rotary International President Stephanie A. Urchick, de Camargo cited personal reasons and business obligations as the basis for his decision to step down from the role. The Brazilian, a member of the Rotary Club of Santo André in São Paulo, later confirmed that despite stepping away from the presidency, he remains committed to Rotary and will continue serving as an active member of his club and community.
De Camargo, a dedicated Rotarian since 1980, was selected as Rotary International President for 2025-26 by the Nominating Committee for President in August 2023. His nomination was a point of pride for the Rotary community in Brazil and across the globe, marking a significant moment for Latin American representation at Rotary’s highest leadership level.
In response to the announcement, President Urchick expressed gratitude for de Camargo’s decades of service.
“We greatly appreciate Mário’s 45 years of leadership and service to our organisation and the tremendous pride his nomination created among Brazilian Rotary members,” she said in a letter to Rotarians. “I am certain that Mário will leverage his experience and will continue to contribute to the growth of Rotary in Brazil and around the world. I want to thank Mário and Denise for their hard work and dedication to Rotary over the past 20 months. We wish Mário well.”
The Rotary International Board of Directors is expected to convene shortly to determine the next steps and establish the process for selecting a new President for the 2025-26 Rotary year.