Business · Companies · 2 hrs ago
Santander hires former El Corte Inglés CEO Santiago Bau
Santander has hired former El Corte Inglés CEO Santiago Bau to lead strategy, finance and supplier management in its Technology and Operations division.
Bau is due to join the Spanish bank in November and will report to Juan Olaizola, who leads the division.
His role will also cover procurement, budget planning and control, and carrying out the division’s strategic plan.
The appointment brings financial and management experience: Bau worked at Goldman Sachs for 17 years and later held senior roles at El Corte Inglés, including CEO.
He also chaired the board of Financiera El Corte Inglés, in which Santander owns a 51% stake.
Santander is continuing its One Transformation programme, which aims to support growth through digitisation, simpler processes and shared technology platforms.
The division also works on technology, operations, cybersecurity and technology risk.
Bau’s appointment is expected to bring further personnel changes in the division, but no details are given.
Santander has hired former El Corte Inglés chief executive Santiago Bau to lead global strategy, finance and supplier management in its Technology and Operations area.
Bau is due to join the bank in November and will report to Juan Olaizola, Santander’s chief operating and technology officer.
His responsibilities will include strategy, finance, procurement, budget planning and control for the division.
Bau was director general of El Corte Inglés until June and previously spent 17 years at Goldman Sachs.
Santander’s Technology and Operations area reports to group president Ana Botín.
- Who
- Santander has hired Santiago Bau, former chief executive of El Corte Inglés.
- What
- Bau will lead global strategy, finance and supplier management in Santander’s Technology and Operations area.
- When
- He is due to join in November. The article was published on October 22, 2026.
- Where
- Santander’s Technology and Operations area. The sources do not state a location.
- Why
- Santander is strengthening the division with a finance-focused executive who has experience in banking and management.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Santander’s Technology and Operations area began reporting to group president Ana Botín as part of a governance renewal.
Juan Olaizola took charge of the Technology and Operations area, replacing Dirk Marzluf.
Bau left his role as director general of El Corte Inglés, and Javier Catena was appointed chief executive.
Bau is due to join Santander.
- New role
- Global head of strategy, finance and supplier management in Technology and Operations
- Reporting line
- Juan Olaizola, chief operating and technology officer
- Expected start
- November
- El Corte Inglés tenure
- Director general until June
- Goldman Sachs experience
- 17 years