BBVA reinforces its Digital Banking area with the appointment of two new executives

MADRID, May 13, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- BBVA incorporates two U.S. executives with successful careers dedicated to innovation in banking. The new appointments will help drive BBVA's transformation into a digital business model, to better adapt to new customer demands marked by an increase in mobile usage and the entrance of new competitors. Jeff Dennes and Mark Jamison will both report to Carlos Torres Vila as part of the newly created area in BBVA named Digital Banking.

Jeff Dennes, who led digital and innovation efforts at SunTrust, Huntington and USAA, will head the new Business Development and Digital Transformation division of BBVA Compass, the Group's U.S. franchise. Mark Jamison, previously Chief Digital Officer at Capital One Bank, will join BBVA as the Director of Customer Experience and Business Intelligence.

"We are taking decisive steps in the Group's transformation in order to create the best possible experience for current and future customers. The goal is for BBVA to be the best bank of the digital age," said Torres Vila.   

The move is the latest as the Group anticipates a new banking landscape. The Group announced its new Digital Banking area in March. Its primary goals are to accelerate BBVA's transformation and to boost the development of new digital businesses. This reorganization took place a month after BBVA announced it was acquiring Simple, a startup considered a pioneer in digital banking services in the U.S. BBVA also owns BBVA Ventures, a capital venture arm that identifies startups working on disruptive technology for the financial industry.   

Jeff Dennes, who will be based at BBVA Compass Plaza in Houston, is a veteran in the financial services sector in the U.S., where he specialized in understanding the customer decision-making process and finding digital solutions. He previously led digital and innovation efforts at SunTrust and Huntington National Bank, where he was Head of Digital and Chief Digital Officer, respectively. In 2011, Jeff Dennes was recognized as Innovator of the Year by Bank Technology News. He was also named to Bank Systems & Technology's Elite 8 in 2010 for his work at USAA, where he was the head of Online and Mobile Services. He holds a degree in business administration from Texas State University.

Mark Jamison will be based in Madrid. He was previously the Chief Digital Officer at Capital One Bank and also headed its innovation laboratory. His projects exploring new opportunities for the deployment of digital payment systems, social media, mobile services and big data, have been converted into best practices and applied globally at Capital One Bank and Capital One 360 (previously ING Direct). He also held key positions at Charles Schwab, Fidelity and McDonald's, where he was entrepreneur in residence for corporate strategy and business development. He has an MBA from Northwestern University and a bachelor's degree from Indiana University.

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About BBVA

BBVA is a customer-centric global financial services group founded in 1857. The Group has a solid position in Spain, it is the largest financial institution in Mexico and it has leading franchises in South America and the Sunbelt Region of the United States. Its diversified business is biased to high-growth markets and it relies on technology as a key sustainable competitive advantage. Corporate responsibility is at the core of its business model. BBVA fosters financial education and inclusion, and supports scientific research and culture. It operates with the highest integrity, a long-term vision and applies the best practices. The Group is present in the main sustainability indexes.

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