In our ongoing My HAVI Story series, we celebrate team members whose commitment and passion have left a lasting mark on our company. This month, we’re proud to feature Carmo Talento, Senior Manager Accounting Iberia – HAVI Portugal, who has been part of HAVI’s journey for over 30 years.
Tell us a bit about yourself
I was born in Torres Vedras, known as “the land of the most Portuguese Carnival in Portugal,” and I currently live in Odivelas, Lisbon. I’ve been married to Rui for 28 years, and together we’ve built a wonderful family with our two children, Margarida (24) and Hugo (21).
Quality Time with the family
In my free time, I enjoy hiking and traveling whenever our schedules allow. I also love walking by the seaside and enjoy the sunset with a good book.
What’s your current role at HAVI, and what do you enjoy most about it?
For several years, I’ve been responsible for Accounting across both Spain and Portugal. My scope of responsibility extends well beyond traditional accounting activities, though. I help ensure full compliance with HAVI standards as well as local legal and regulatory requirements, while simultaneously supporting both internal and external stakeholders.
I currently lead a team of nine direct reports in both countries. My role involves close team coordination with active involvement in ongoing projects and initiatives. These projects are driven either by HAVI, customer needs, or legal and fiscal requirements. So my day-to-day work is certainly fast-paced, demanding, and provides a lot of variety.
How did your journey at HAVI begin?
I joined HAVI back in 1995, starting my career in accounting where I got a lot of hands-on exposure to the ins and outs of business operations in a tight-knit, collaborative environment. This early experience was really valuable in giving me a -strong understanding of the organization- from top to bottom.
In 2000, I was offered the opportunity to become Finance Director for HAVI Portugal (DCB), a role that also included responsibility for Human Resources. During that period, HAVI grew a lot by welcoming new clients, and I learned the importance of strong negotiation skills and defining business terms and contractual agreements with service providers. This period was transformative both for me and the company, with HAVI evolving from a European entity into a truly global organization.
A defining moment in my career came in 2013, when I stepped outside my comfort zone to help build the Iberian finance cluster. Since then, I’ve been responsible for Accounting across Iberia-a role I continue to hold today.
This position has allowed me to contribute to several strategic and transformative initiatives for HAVI, including the implementation of SAP VF, the HUB-FI centralization of Treasury, Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable, and also navigating risk management during the turbulent COVID times of 2020.
Spending an entire career within the same company may seem unusual to many-and sometimes even to myself-but I’m genuinely proud of this journey. HAVI has always provided me with opportunities to learn, grow, and reinvent myself, giving me a career that’s dynamic, challenging, and deeply rewarding.
Carmo’s Career Moves at HAVI:
What has kept you at HAVI all these years?
When I joined HAVI, I expected to stay for around three to five years. At the time, I felt that professional growth demanded new roles or companies every few years.
Carmo, together with the Portugal Leadership Team: Carlos Santos, Operations Manager, Luis Ferreira, Managing Director and Maria Lagoa, Senior Controller with the family
Nearly 30 years later, I am still happily here. What has kept me at HAVI is the company’s continuous investment in my growth and its ability to provide new challenges and opportunities over time. I’ve been able to grow professionally without leaving the company through diverse roles, increasing responsibility, and exposure to different geographies and global initiatives.
Equally important are the people. I’ve had the privilege of working with and learning from so many inspiring colleagues across Portugal, Spain, and the global organization-people I respect and genuinely admire. The culture of collaboration, trust, and shared purpose has always made HAVI feel like the right place for me. Today, I feel that I am very much part of HAVI, and HAVI is part of who I am.
How have you grown personally or professionally during your time here?
Throughout my journey at HAVI, I’ve grown significantly both professionally and personally. From a technical perspective, HAVI has consistently provided the tools, systems, and training needed to adapt and evolve alongside the business.
Beyond technical skills, HAVI has helped strengthen my personal and leadership capabilities. The support, guidance, and constructive feedback I’ve received from managers and colleagues over the years have influenced how I lead, make decisions, and support people.
Some early lessons have stayed with me and continue to guide me every day: challenge yourself, take thoughtful risks, speak up when something doesn’t feel right, and empower others to grow on their terms. Lessons such as “only those who act can make mistakes,” “challenging ideas adds value,” and “if people are good, don’t hold them back–let them grow” have deeply shaped my leadership philosophy.
These experiences have helped me become a more confident, open, and empowering leader, and continue to influence how I support my team.
Arnd Christochowitz, HAVI CFO and Liz Garcia – Economou, VP Risk Management and Internal Controls, hand over the “Go Beyond” Award during the 2025 GBS Conference in Amsterdam.
What’s special about your team or the people you work with?
I’m really proud of my team. What makes them special is their dedication, collaborative spirit, and the rigor they bring to their work. They consistently demonstrate professionalism, personal ownership, and commitment to quality.
I also greatly value their adaptability and openness to change. They embrace new challenges with a positive mindset, which is essential in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
More broadly, HAVI’s culture of collaboration and mutual support makes it a great place to work. By working together toward shared goals, we achieve great results efficiently and cost effectively while keeping our customers satisfied.
How has HAVI changed over the years, and what do you see for the future?
HAVI has come a long way since I joined the company. One of the first major milestones was the welcoming of new customers that coincided with the transition to becoming the HAVI (MS) holding.
In recent years, the implementation of the Control Tower and the standardization of processes across HAVI have marked important leaps forward. There’s been an increased focus on risk prevention-particularly in finance, quality, and security-which reflects HAVI’s commitment to sustainable, responsible growth.
Looking ahead, I see myself continuing to do my part in strengthening the finance organization, driving compliance, and helping teams adapt to change, ensuring HAVI remains resilient and sustainable for many years to come.
Why would you recommend HAVI to someone considering working here?
I would recommend HAVI because its values truly speak for themselves. They inspire a strong sense of credibility, trust, and belonging, while also offering real opportunities for both professional and personal growth.
Find out more about the Career Growth at HAVI and explore the options available to support your development!
