Santander Bank announced Keith Alves was named head of sales and strategy for its business banking group.

Santander Bank announced that Keith Alves was named head of sales and strategy for its business banking group. In this role, he is responsible for teams that acquire and grow banking relationships with companies in the $3 million to $20 million range.

Alves comes to Santander with a long record of success in the financial services industry, including 20 years at both Citizens Bank and its predecessor, through acquisition, Mellon Bank in a variety of positions in the commercial and business banking sectors. Most recently, he served as the regional executive for the Western Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois business banking markets.

“I’m very excited that Keith has joined Santander and will lend his expertise to our business banking group,” said Ken Martin, head of business banking and director of New England middle market banking at Santander. “Keith will lend fresh energy and ideas to this critical aspect of our efforts to provide real change to the way commercial banking is done in the U.S.”

“I’m excited to join the Santander team,” said Alves. “Santander is committed to the business banking client space, and I look forward to working with our bankers to deliver great ideas and world class service to our customers.”