StoneCo (Nasdaq: STNE) appoints Mateus Scherer CEO as Zinner exits
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
StoneCo Ltd. is undergoing a planned leadership transition as Chief Executive Officer Pedro Zinner has decided to resign from his role, effective March 2026, for personal reasons. The Board intends to nominate him for election to the Board of Directors at the next general shareholders’ meeting and, subject to shareholder approval, expects to appoint him as Chairman, while current Chairman Mr. Luchetti would remain as a board member.
Current Chief Financial Officer and Investor Relations Officer Mateus Scherer has been appointed to become Chief Executive Officer effective March 2026, reflecting the Board’s preference for internal succession and strategic continuity. Treasury Officer and executive committee member Diego Salgado will take over as Chief Financial Officer and Investor Relations Officer, while executive Lia Matos will leave her operating role and continue as an advisor. Following the closing of the Linx divestiture, Sandro Bassili is expected to become Chief Operating Officer, as StoneCo emphasizes disciplined execution, strong governance, and long-term value creation.
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Insights
StoneCo aligns CEO succession with board reshuffle to preserve continuity.
StoneCo is combining a CEO transition with a reshaping of its board leadership. CEO Pedro Zinner will step down in March 2026 for personal reasons, with the Board intending to nominate him as a director and, subject to shareholder approval, appoint him as Chairman. This structure keeps his strategic influence while separating day-to-day management from board oversight.
The promotion of long-time executive and current CFO/Investor Relations Officer Mateus Scherer to CEO, together with Treasury Officer Diego Salgado stepping up as CFO and IRO, signals reliance on internal talent and familiarity with StoneCo’s capital allocation, banking and credit initiatives. The expected appointment of Sandro Bassili as COO after the Linx divestiture, and the shift of senior executive Lia Matos into an advisory role, further consolidate responsibilities among existing leaders.
For investors, the moves emphasize continuity around StoneCo’s evolution from payments into a broader financial services platform, including its relaunched credit products. Actual outcomes will depend on how effectively the new leadership team maintains strategic focus and execution discipline around capital allocation, risk management, and integration of prior divestiture decisions such as Linx.
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the month of January 2026
Commission File Number: 001-38714
STONECO LTD.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
4th Floor, Harbour Place
103 South Church Street, P.O. Box 10240
Grand Cayman, KY1-1002, Cayman Islands +55 (11) 3004-9680
(Address of principal executive office)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F:
| Form 20-F |
X |
Form 40-F |
|
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): ☐
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): ☐
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| StoneCo Ltd. | ||||
| By: | /s/ Tatiana Malamud | |||
| Name: | Tatiana Malamud | |||
| Title: | Chief Legal and Compliance Officer | |||
Date: January 07, 2026
EXHIBIT INDEX
| Exhibit No. | Description |
| 99.1 | StoneCo Announces New CEO, Reinforcing Continuity and Execution |
StoneCo Announces New CEO, Reinforcing Continuity and Execution
GEORGE TOWN, Grand Cayman, January 07th, 2026 - StoneCo Ltd. (Nasdaq: STNE) (“Stone” or “the Company”) announces today that Mr. Pedro Zinner has informed the Board of Directors of his decision to resign from his position as Chief Executive Officer, effective March 2026, for personal reasons.
Mr. Zinner assumed the role of CEO three years ago, following his service on the Company’s Board, at a critical moment in Stone’s trajectory. During his tenure, Stone executed a clear strategic pivot, including the divestment of non-core assets such as Linx, the implementation of broad streamlining initiatives, the establishment of a disciplined capital allocation framework, and meaningful progress in evolving the Company from a pure payments provider into a comprehensive financial services platform for Brazilian entrepreneurs, with particular emphasis on the relaunch and expansion of its credit products.
The Board expresses its deep appreciation to Mr. Zinner for his leadership and commitment to strengthening the Company during an important phase of its development. Commenting on his decision, Mr. Zinner stated:
“Leading Stone through this relevant chapter has been a privilege. Together with an exceptional team, we reshaped the Company, reinforced financial discipline, and built a stronger, more focused platform for the future. My decision to step down is driven by personal considerations, and I am confident that Stone is well positioned to continue executing on its strategy.”
The Board intends to nominate Mr. Zinner for election to the Board of Directors at the next general shareholders’ meeting. Subject to shareholder approval of his election to the Board, Mr. Zinner is expected to be appointed Chairman of the Board, ensuring continued strategic oversight, institutional continuity, and strong alignment between management and shareholders. After two years of service as Chairman of the Board, Mr. Luchetti is expected to transition back to his role as a member of the Board of Directors.
In connection with this transition, the Board of Directors has appointed Mr. Mateus Scherer as Chief Executive Officer, effective March 2026. Mr. Scherer currently serves as Chief Financial Officer and Investor Relations Officer and has been with the Company since its early days, playing a central role in capital allocation, financial strategy, risk management, and the execution of Stone’s banking and credit initiatives. His appointment reflects the Board’s confidence in internal leadership and preserves strategic continuity.
Mr. Diego Salgado, currently Treasury Officer and a member of the executive committee, will expand his responsibilities to include the Company’s broader finance agenda and will assume the role of Chief Financial Officer and Investor Relations Officer.
As part of the broader leadership transition, Ms. Lia Matos has decided to end her cycle in the Company. Stone acknowledges and thanks Ms. Matos for her significant contributions, including providing strategic clarity, leading key initiatives, such as the IPO, and helping shape the Company’s operating model over the past years. Ms. Matos will remain close to the company as an advisor and her responsibilities will be reorganized and transitioned internally.
Finally, following the closing of the Linx divestiture, Mr. Sandro Bassili is expected to assume the role of Chief Operating Officer of Stone.
Stone extends its sincere appreciation to Pedro Zinner and Lia Matos for their lasting contributions. As the Company enters its next chapter, it remains focused on disciplined execution, strong governance, and long-term value creation for shareholders.
About StoneCo
Stone Co. is a leading provider of financial technology solutions that empower merchants to conduct commerce seamlessly across multiple channels and help them grow their businesses with our payments, banking, credit and software solutions.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date they were first issued and were based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections as well as the beliefs and assumptions of management. These statements identify prospective information and may include words such as “believe,” “may,” “will,” “aim,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “forecast,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “potential,” “aspiration,” “objectives,” “should,” “purpose,” “belief,” and similar, or variations of, or the negative of such words and expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words.
Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which involve factors or circumstances that are beyond Stone’s control.
Stone’s actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including but not limited to: more intense competition than expected, lower addition of new clients, regulatory measures, more investments in our business than expected, and our inability to execute successfully upon our strategic initiatives, among other factors.
Contact:
Investor Relations
investors@stone.co
FAQ
What leadership changes did StoneCo (STNE) announce in this 6-K?
StoneCo announced that CEO Pedro Zinner will resign effective March 2026, with CFO and Investor Relations Officer Mateus Scherer appointed to become the new CEO at that time. Treasury Officer Diego Salgado will become Chief Financial Officer and Investor Relations Officer, and Sandro Bassili is expected to assume the role of Chief Operating Officer after the closing of the Linx divestiture.
Why is StoneCo CEO Pedro Zinner stepping down?
StoneCo stated that Pedro Zinner decided to resign from his position as Chief Executive Officer, effective March 2026, for personal reasons. In his comments, he highlighted that leading StoneCo through a key chapter was a privilege and expressed confidence in the company’s continued strategic execution.
What role is Pedro Zinner expected to play at StoneCo after resigning as CEO?
The Board intends to nominate Pedro Zinner for election to the Board of Directors at the next general shareholders’ meeting. Subject to shareholder approval of his election, he is expected to be appointed Chairman of the Board, helping ensure ongoing strategic oversight and institutional continuity.
Who is StoneCo’s new CEO and what is his background at the company?
Mateus Scherer, currently Chief Financial Officer and Investor Relations Officer, has been appointed to become Chief Executive Officer effective March 2026. He has been with StoneCo since its early days and has played a central role in capital allocation, financial strategy, risk management, and in executing the company’s banking and credit initiatives.
What happens to StoneCo’s current Chairman and other senior executives?
After two years as Chairman, Mr. Luchetti is expected to transition back to being a member of the Board. Lia Matos has decided to end her executive cycle at the company; StoneCo credits her with major contributions including the IPO and operating model design, and notes she will remain close as an advisor.
How does this leadership transition relate to StoneCo’s strategy after the Linx divestiture?
During Pedro Zinner’s tenure, StoneCo pursued a strategic pivot that included the divestment of non-core assets such as Linx and reinforcing its shift from a pure payments provider to a comprehensive financial services platform. Following the closing of the Linx divestiture, Sandro Bassili is expected to become Chief Operating Officer, supporting operational execution in this next chapter.
