BBVA Compass appointed banking industry veteran Dillan Knudson as its new Austin, TX, CEO, where he will lead the market’s commercial banking operations and local Global Wealth and small business banking teams. He will also manage the local advisory board.

Knudson has been in the industry for more than a decade, with a background in commercial and healthcare banking. Since joining BBVA Compass in 2011 as a credit products officer, he has held titles such as relationship manager and market president for the Inland Empire. He subsequently selected to attend the BBVA Compass Executive Education Program at the University of Texas in 2016.

“Dillan is a hard-working, fast-rising banking professional who brings an energy and innovative way of thinking that reflects Austin’s startup atmosphere,” said BBVA Compass Texas Regional Executive Jeff Dudderar. “He is consistently a top-performer and has won multiple bank awards for his extraordinary and consistent performance. He has also worked in diverse areas of the industry, and is well prepared to take on the market’s various banking needs.”

Before joining BBVA Compass, Knudson worked in investment banking with an advisory firm that specialized in new market tax credits, low income housing tax credits, historic tax credits and investment tax credits. He also worked in commercial real estate, focusing on medical office buildings in Arizona and Utah.

Knudson’s appointment to market CEO comes on the heels of previous Austin CEO Joe Petet’s retirement at the end of the calendar year. Petet has been the market’s leader for almost ten years and is stepping down after a successful run with the bank that has seen high market share rankings and robust deposit numbers.

“We are very sad to see Joe leave, but we couldn’t be happier for him and the new chapter he is choosing to undertake,” said Dudderar. “BBVA Compass saw substantial growth in the Austin market, and it was thanks in no small part to Joe’s solid leadership and his eye for up-and-coming talent. We wish him just as much success in retirement.”