Santander Holdings USA announced that Rosilyn Houston is joining the company as Chief Human Resources Officer, effective August 2, 2021. Houston will report to Tim Wennes, Chief Executive Officer of SHUSA and of Santander Bank, N.A.
In this role, Houston will oversee and provide strategic direction for the teams and programs within Santander US Human resources, including HR Service Delivery, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Talent Acquisition, Learning and Development, HR Information Systems, Total Rewards, HR Business Partners and Employee Relations.
“I am very pleased to welcome Rosilyn to Santander, and I am confident that the wealth of experience she has in HR strategy and branding, culture development, and recruiting, developing and retaining talent in the financial services space will help us further elevate our employee experience and Santander’s employer brand,” said Wennes. “I look forward to partnering with Rosilyn as we continue to grow the US business, work to be a best-in-class employer of choice, and advance Santander’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion at all levels of the organization.”
Houston commented, “I’m thrilled to be joining Santander at such an exciting, pivotal time for the organization. With tremendous opportunities for growth ahead, it’s critical that Santander has the right strategy for advancing its dynamic, ambitious, engaged and diverse workforce, while continuing to grow its rich culture. I am honored to have the opportunity to lead these important initiatives.”
Houston joins SHUSA from BBVA USA, where she served as US Head of Talent and Culture and was responsible for providing leadership in recruitment and staffing, compensation and benefits, employee engagement, diversity & inclusion, corporate culture, workplace premises and services, internal communications, payroll administration, and compliance with all employment-related legal and governmental regulations and requirements. She began her banking career as a part-time teller while attending college, and went on to hold various front-line and leadership positions for BBVA USA’s retail bank, including managing in the complex and dynamic environments of North Texas, California, Alabama and Florida.
Among her many accolades, Houston has twice been named by American Banker as one of the Top 25 Most Powerful Women in Banking.
Houston is also an active supporter of her local community, where she provides volunteer leadership for the American Heart Association, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and serves on the executive board for the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. She earned her bachelor’s degree in organizational management at the University of Phoenix in Arizona and her master’s in management at the University of Redlands in California.
