With 30 years of leadership experience in branding and marketing, Maria leads the alignment of Santander's U.S. businesses with its parent company Banco Santander's digital and product platform development. She is responsible for launching new products, services and payment strategies in the U.S. and streamlining U.S. operations through digital technology. This new role is in addition to her current role as Santander Bank's chief marketing and digital officer.

As chief marketing and digital officer, Maria introduced the Bank's Respect value proposition, launched a data management platform and developed a digital roadmap focused on the mobile client experience. Prior to joining Santander in 2016, Maria was the chief marketing officer at Fifth Third Bank where she championed a comprehensive digital sales and experience strategy that supported the investment in digital capabilities. Before Fifth Third Bank, Maria held senior marketing roles at various financial institutions including Citi and JPMorgan Chase.

"Across the Santander Group worldwide, efforts are underway to digitally transform our business, products and services to keep us competitive in a technology-driven marketplace," said Santander US CEO Scott Powell. "This new position is being created in each country of Santander's global footprint and I'm so pleased that Maria has accepted this role here in the U.S. Her extensive experience in marketing, digital platforms, product development and pricing strategy clearly make her the right person to lead SHUSA's digital transformation."

Maria holds a B.S. in Economics from University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School and a Master of Business Administration from New York University's Stern School of Business.