As confirmed to Funds Society by sources familiar with the appointment, BBVA Compass has just recruited José Santamaría, a professional with over 20 years experience, to its international UHNW clients’ department. Santamaría has just taken up his new post in New York at the beginning of July.
The company’s international UHNW clients’ department is headed by Manuel Sanchez Castillo and depends on the international wealth management division, which in turn is managed by Hector Chacon.
Santamaría, a private banker specializing in high net worth clients, has extensive experience in asset management and investment banking.
Santamaría comes from Deutsche Bank, where he held the position of manager in New York for three years; his role also involved managing the bank’s relationship with Latin American private banking clients.
Prior to joining Deutsche Bank in 2011, Santamaría founded, and was CEO of Meridian Gestión Patrimonial in Madrid, a multi-family office specializing in wealth management solutions for European and Latin American families, as is listed on their Linkedin profile.
Before that, Santamaría was a banker for 14 years at JP Morgan Chase in New York, Geneva and Madrid, managing one of the biggest books of private banking clients. Santamaría also worked as a portfolio manager in Spain, Switzerland and the United States, where, amongst other functions, he was responsible for the creation of global discretionary portfolios, management of fixed income modules in discretionary accounts, and the creation and support of the Luxembourg mutual funds’ platform.
Santamaría has also worked at UBS in Switzerland, where he was responsible for Investment Consulting and Business Development for the Americas, besides being a frequent speaker on alternative investments at numerous events and conferences in the region. He was also a member of the Key Client Group for the Americas in Geneva.
Previously, BBVA Compass’ new member worked for Citibank in Zurich as a trainee, as risk manager for a hedge fund, and as bond portfolio manager for Latin American clients and prior to that for a real estate firm in Spain.
Santamaría has a degree in Business Administration from the Autonomous University of Madrid and has a Masters’ degree in Financial Management & Administration from the European Business Institute.
For Fórmate a Fondo