Santander UK today announced Enrique Alvarez as the CEO of its newly formed Retail & Business Banking division, which merges the bank’s existing Homes and Everyday Banking divisions. Enrique took up this role on 1 October 2023.
The Retail & Business Banking division covers development and delivery of products for retail and business banking customers across branches, contact centres and digital channels. Marketing, financial support and Santander brands Cater Allen and Cahoot also sit within the division.
Enrique began his Santander career in 2015, as Group Head of Strategy and Head of Global Chairman’s office for Banco Santander. He moved to the UK in 2019 as Head of Strategy and Corporate Development and has been Chief Customer Officer for Everyday Banking since 2021. Enrique has a previous 20 years of international business experience in a range of blue-chip companies, including Robert Bosch and McKinsey, where he served as a partner for a range of global financial services and technology clients for eight years.
Santander UK CEO, Mike Regnier said: “Bringing together our Homes and Everyday Banking teams enables us to focus better on delivering the best service for our customers. I am delighted that Enrique will be leading the newly created division and using his extensive experience both in the UK and at Group to shape this key part of the business for the future. I look forward to continuing my close working relationship with him.”
Enrique Alvarez said: “I am excited to be leading our new Retail & Business Banking division. Managing our retail business under a single entity allows us to offer products and services that address the customer’s whole need – whether personal or small business – and I look forward to working with the incredible teams who deliver support for our customers every day.”
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Enrique Alvarez - career history
Enrique has c. 20 years’ international business experience in a range of blue-chip companies. Before moving to Santander in 2015, he served as a McKinsey Partner for a range of global financial services and technology clients for a number of years, including Santander.
Enrique joined Banco Santander in 2015 where he was Group Head of Strategy and Head of Global Chairman’s office. He was also in charge of Responsible Banking and the Group’s Insurance business. He moved to the UK in 2019 as Head of Strategy and Corporate Development. He took up the role of Chief People Officer in 2020 and was subsequently appointed Head of Everyday Banking in 2021.
Santander UK is a financial services provider in the UK that offers a wide range of personal and commercial financial products and services. At 30 June 2023, the bank had around 19,400 employees and serves around 14 million active customers, 7 million digital customers via a nationwide 445 branch network, telephone, mobile and online banking. Santander UK is subject to the full supervision of the FCA and the PRA in the UK. Santander UK plc customers’ eligible deposits are protected by the FSCS in the UK.
Banco Santander (SAN SM, STD US, BNC LN) is a leading commercial bank, founded in 1857 and headquartered in Spain. It has a meaningful presence in 10 core markets in the Europe, North America and South America regions, and is one of the largest banks in the world by market capitalization. Santander aims to be the best open financial services platform providing services to individuals, SMEs, corporates, financial institutions and governments. The bank’s purpose is to help people and businesses prosper in a simple, personal and fair way. Santander is building a more responsible bank and has made a number of commitments to support this objective, including raising €220 billion in green financing between 2019 and 2030. In the first half of 2023, Banco Santander had €1.25 trillion in total funds, 164 million customers, 9,000 branches and 212,000 employees.