U.S.-based retail bank, Santander Bank announced that Michael Richard has joined the bank as senior VP and head of seafood industry banking. In this role, he oversees the bank’s seafood focus within the asset based lending division. His responsibilities include execution of the bank’s market expansion strategy for the seafood industry across the United States and Canada.
Santander plans to expand its thriving regional seafood focus nationally and will draw on its global resources to do so. These plans are to be kicked off with an event to take place during Seafood Expo North America 16 to 18 March in Boston. During the trade show, Santander will host delegations from the embassies of Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Chile, Mexico and Costa Rica bringing together representatives of more than 80 companies from those countries together with U.S. companies interested in expanding their foreign trade in Latin America.
Prior to joining Santander Richard served as CFO and COO of Boston-based Slade Gorton & Co. where he played an integral role in Slade’s business strategy and was responsible for oversight of the firm’s finance, operations, procurement and logistics, quality assurance efforts. He has also worked at Glitnir Bank as head of business development in North America, The Hale Group as a management consultant to food and agribusiness clients and as a commodities market-maker at Free Markets.
“Given his extensive financial background in the seafood industry, we’re very pleased that Michael chose to join us,” said Paul Kelly, managing director of Santander’s asset based lending division. “He brings years of hands-on experience in the seafood industry which gives him a deep understanding of how Santander’s services can help companies grow their business—whether it’s farming and harvesting, processing and packaging, or distribution and retail.”
A member of the Treasurer’s Club of Boston, Richard is also active in the National Fisheries Institute.
