The BBVA Group named Javier Rodriguez Soler as CEO for BBVA Compass and country manager for the Group's U.S. operations, following the appointment of Onur Genç as BBVA Group CEO. The appointment will provide continuity to the execution of the bank's current strategy and continue the strong momentum the bank has built in the U.S.

"Javier is the best fit for advancing the work of the bank in the U.S.," said BBVA's current U.S. Country Manager and future BBVA Group CEO Onur Genç. "His broad range of experience, both in the U.S. and globally, will ensure that BBVA in the U.S. will continue on the path of profitable growth that is underpinned by its digital transformation efforts."

Rodriguez Soler is currently BBVA Group's global head of Strategy and M&A, where his corporate development functions include setting the strategy at both the Group and country level, where he has had extensive exposure to the U.S. His area of responsibility also includes the Real Estate and Equity Holdings units. Rodriguez Soler joined the bank in 2008 as a managing director for Corporate & Investment Banking.

Prior to BBVA, Rodriguez Soler was director of Investor Relations and director of Strategy and M&A with Spanish utility Endesa, where he worked for five years. He was also an engagement manager with McKinsey, a global management consulting firm.

The Madrid-born Rodriguez Soler holds a Master of Business Administration from Columbia Business School in New York and studied Business Administration and Management at CUNEF in Madrid. In the academic field, he also served as professor at CEU-Universidad Complutense de Madrid. He is married and the father of two children.

"I couldn't be more excited to be part of the U.S. team and work with them to advance the bank's strategic objectives in the country," Rodriguez Soler said. "I am looking forward to building on the work Onur has done over the past two years in order to continue the strong momentum now and into the future."

The appointment is likely to become effective at the start of the year, once the relevant authorizations have been obtained.