With myself, partner and son all working for RM obviously any detrimental decisions will have a devastating affect to our household so whatever happens in the future we can only hope it's for the best.

BBC: Royal Mail is to be privatised, government confirms

But whatever happens to Mr Meirelles in future, his achievements since January 2003 have laid the foundations for Brazil's present-day prosperity.

BBC: Brazil's inflation hawk Henrique Meirelles bows out