José Cechin is executive superintendent of the Institute for Supplementary Health Studies (IESS). He was minister of social security in the Fernando Henrique Cardoso administration and executive director of the National Supplementary Health Federation (FenaSaúde). He is an electronic engineer from the Technological Institute of Aeronautics (ITA), has a master's degree in electrical engineering and economics from Unicamp, and a master's degree in economics from the University of Cambridge.