Xavier (Xavi) Ruiz leads the Office of US Strategic Initiatives, overseeing the execution of a portfolio of strategic, company-wide programs in partnership with teams in the U.S. and across Santander Group’s global network.

Xavi has been with Santander since 2010 and has held several positions across both Santander US and Santander Bank, N.A. (SBNA). He joined SBNA as Head of Corporate Development and has served as Santander US Financial Controller, the Chief Financial Officer and Chief of Staff for Commercial Banking, the Chief Financial Officer and Chief of Staff for US Corporate & Investment Banking, and the Chief Strategy Officer and Chief of Staff for Santander US. From 2015 to 2018, he served on the Boards of Directors of Banco Santander International and Santander Investment Securities.

Prior to joining Santander US, Xavi was Head of Private, Corporate, and Retail Banking at Credit Andorra Bank, where he held various leadership positions from 2000 to 2009. While living in Andorra, he also served as a Board member at insurance company Credit Assegurances and mutual funds company Credit Invest. He started his career as a McKinsey & Company consultant in Spain, where he worked in financial services engagements.

Xavi is the Executive Sponsor of Conexion, the Santander US Business Resource Group dedicated to building a sense of community where Hispanic and Latino colleagues can advance, feel empowered, and are able to make meaningful impact in the communities where they live and work.

He is also a member of Boston Ballet Board of Advisors as well as a member of its Investment and Finance Committees.

Xavi earned an M.B.A. from MIT Sloan School of Management and an M.S. in Chemical Engineering from Institut Quimic de Sarria in Barcelona.