Santander promotes Petri Nikkilä to the role of CEO for Openbank, also making him the head of the non-auto consumer sector for the Digital Consumer Bank.
Petri Nikkilä, a seasoned executive with a wealth of experience in the European financial sector, has been appointed as the new global CEO of Openbank and head of the Digital Consumer Bank’s non-auto consumer business. The appointment, effective from May, will see Mr. Nikkilä take the helm of Santander's digital transformation initiatives within its consumer banking division.
Mr. Nikkilä joins Openbank from ING, where he led the global retail digital transformation and was previously the head of Retail Banking for the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg, serving over 10 million customers. Prior to that, he honed his skills at Nordea and HSBC.
One of Mr. Nikkilä's most notable achievements was his six-year tenure at Unilever, where he led the business in Africa, the Middle East, and Turkey. This experience in the consumer sector will undoubtedly prove valuable as he spearheads Openbank's digital consumer business.
Openbank, a digital-native bank, has experienced significant growth since its relaunch in 2017, doubling its customer base to over two million. The bank is also one of the best-rated by its customers in Spain and has expanded to become the largest digital-native bank by deposits in Europe.
Santander's Digital Consumer Bank is a growth initiative created by the combination of Santander Consumer Finance (SCF) and Openbank. SCF, Europe's consumer finance leader, is a vital part of Santander's strategy, allowing for the building of stronger customer relationships and delivering consistent, profitable growth.
Mr. Nikkilä will report jointly to Daniel Barriuso, head of Retail & Commercial Banking, and José Luis de Mora, head of Digital Consumer Bank. Once approved, he will also become a member of the boards of Openbank and Santander Consumer Finance.
The appointment is subject to regulatory approvals. Mr. Nikkilä succeeds Ezequiel Szafir, who was Openbank’s CEO until last year. A Finnish national, Mr. Nikkilä holds master's degrees in Economics and Business Administration from the University of Vaasa (Finland) and from the Erasmus University of Rotterdam.
With his extensive experience in the European financial sector, both in continental Europe and the UK, especially in digital banking, Mr. Nikkilä is well-positioned to lead Openbank and the Digital Consumer Bank towards continued growth and success. His focus on enhancing digital banking services, improving customer experience through technology, and driving innovation will undoubtedly contribute to Santander’s position as a leading digital bank.
Digital banking will greatly benefit from Mr. Nikkilä's expertise, given his history of leading global retail digital transformation at ING. As he takes charge at Openbank and Santander's Digital Consumer Bank, his focus on technology-driven innovation will further propel the business and finance sectors.
