Santander Bank named Patrick Smith the head of small business banking, Giancarlo Marchesi the head of consumer lending and Jennifer Mathissen the firm’s chief marketing officer. They will report to Pierre Habis, head of consumer and business banking .
“Santander Bank is on a path toward growth through simplifying how we go to market and expanding our digital product offerings,” Tim Wennes, CEO of Santander US and Santander Bank, said. “These leaders will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to Santander and their talent will be invaluable as we execute against our strategy.”
“I want to welcome Patrick, Giancarlo and Jennifer to Santander,” Habis said. “They are subject matter experts in their fields and having their talent on the team will greatly accelerate the bank’s transformation. We want to become closer to our customers, and these new leaders will help us build an operating model that matches our customer-first mindset.”
Smith joined Santander Bank on Oct. 5 and is based in Boston. He is responsible for developing the strategic direction, product pricing and portfolio management of the small business banking division.
“Small businesses are the fabric of our economy, and we’re modernizing our banking model to better help small businesses prosper and to serve their holistic financial needs,” Habis said. “Patrick will be integral to this transformation to become a premier small business bank.”
Smith joined Santander from KeyBank, where he was executive vice president and head of commercial digital. Prior to that, Smith was executive vice president of financial wellness and consumer strategy, and was responsible for creating and executing the strategy to transform KeyBank’s consumer banking franchise through digital products, financial wellness programs and brand partnerships. He has more than 25 years of experience in the financial services industry.
Marchesi will join Santander Bank on Oct. 13 and be based in New York. He will manage all aspects of consumer lending, from mortgages to auto lending, and be responsible for driving the growth of the businesses and their products.
“This newly created role consolidates all of our consumer lending products under one leader to not only simplify our organization but also diversify and digitize the products we offer,” Habis said. “Giancarlo has deep experience in the consumer lending space, and his background in credit risk will only enhance the bank’s responsible lending.”
Marchesi will join Santander from Wells Fargo, where he was a senior credit officer in the auto lending division. He has served in leadership roles at other financial firms, including chief risk officer of student lending and auto finance at JPMorgan Chase. He will bring nearly 30 years of banking experience to Santander, with knowledge in risk management and retail lending.
Mathissen will join Santander on Nov. 2 and be based in Boston. She will be a strategic partner in driving business growth and customer loyalty. She will also oversee the customer experience team.
“Jennifer’s analytical background will help us deliver a best-in-class brand and customer experience through data-driven customer insights and analytics,” Habis said. “She will help us build a modern marketing organization with a strong digital framework where we can effectively tell our story to customers.”
Mathissen spent the last two years at CVS Health leading its Enterprise Insights. She will bring to Santander more than 20 years of experience in acquisition marketing, building brands, launching products and developing digital customer experiences honed during her time at Epsilon Agency (formerly Catapult) and McKinsey & Co.
