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Iker Cillero
SVP - Sr. Director, Corporate Strategy & Transformation at SANTANDER HOLDINGS USA, INC
Professional Background
Iker Cillero is an accomplished financial services professional with extensive experience in developing enterprise-wide strategies and executing risk management and operations transformations. With a strong track record of success, Iker has planned and executed complex strategic projects across various corporate structures, business environments, and geographic regions. His experience spans leading successful efficiency and regulatory programs in multiple areas such as risk management, operations, and human resources.
Iker has demonstrated his ability to deliver high-quality results even in complex and challenging settings that require exceptional leadership and managerial skills. His excellent communication abilities, empathy, and adaptability have set him apart in the industry. As of now, he serves as Senior Vice President and Senior Director of Corporate Strategy & Transformation at Santander Holdings USA, Inc., where he continues to contribute significantly to shaping the organizational vision and strategic direction.
Education and Achievements
Iker’s academic background is impressive and diverse, having obtained an MBA in Strategy and General Management from the prestigious Harvard Business School. He also holds a Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Michigan, coupled with a Master of Science in Industrial (Mechanical) Engineering from Universidad de Navarra. His commitment to learning and growth is evident, having participated in an Exchange Program for Industrial Engineering at Université de Technologie de Compiègne, further enriching his educational experience.
These educational achievements have equipped Iker with a strong foundation in both technical and managerial disciplines, making him adept at navigating the complexities of corporate strategy and operations transformations in the financial services sector.
Career Journey
Iker Cillero's career has been characterized by a series of impressive roles, all contributing to his profound understanding of the financial services landscape. He began his journey at Airbus, where he served as a Flight Test Installations Design Engineer and Project Engineer within the Fluid Dynamics and Aerostructures Department. His engineering expertise laid the groundwork for his analytical approach to problem-solving in corporate strategy and risk management.
His transition to the financial sector occurred when he took on roles at Volotea Airlines as Strategy Assistant to the CEO and subsequently at Santander Holdings USA, Inc. Over the years, Iker has held multiple influential positions, including Director of Strategy, Manager of Strategy and Corporate Development, and Director of Operations Excellence.
Most notably, in his capacity as SVP - Sr. Director, Risk Management - Chief of Staff to the CRO at Santander, he played a pivotal role in enhancing risk management frameworks and driving strategic initiatives that align with the company’s vision and goals. Each of these positions has fortified Iker's leadership qualities and versatility in managing diverse teams and complex projects.
Achievements
Iker has continually demonstrated his ability to lead and innovate within the financial services industry. His role in corporate strategy has ensured that Santander Holdings USA, Inc. remains at the forefront of industry change, consistently improving operational efficiencies and complying with regulatory requirements. His contributions to efficiency and regulatory programs across multiple disciplines underscore his skill in strategic planning and execution.
In summary, Iker Cillero's blend of technical expertise, leadership experience, and strategic vision has cemented his reputation as a valuable asset in the financial services sector. His journey from aerospace engineering to senior leadership in finance exemplifies the diverse pathways that contribute to successful careers in business, and he remains a dynamic force in shaping the future of corporate strategy and risk management.
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Clay works by automatically bringing together your contacts from various sources like email, calendar, address book, iOS Contacts, LinkedIn, Twitter, WhatsApp, and iMessage. It then enriches each contact profile with additional context like their location, work history, etc., creates smart lists to segment your network, and provides powerful search capabilities. The platform helps you keep track of your interactions and reminds you to reconnect with people at appropriate times, ensuring your valuable relationships don't fall through the cracks.
Clay offers several powerful features including:
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Clay is considered the best personal CRM and team CRM on the market. Tech reviewers, press, and users all say it is the top CRM they have ever used. Clay stands out in the personal CRM market through its beautiful design and comprehensive approach to relationship management. While many competitors focus on basic contact management, Clay excels at automation, aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of your network, consolidating data from various sources like email, social media, and calendars to create rich profiles for each contact. Its AI-powered Nexus feature sets it apart by allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network, something few competitors offer. It is also considered the best designed CRM, with native apps and a responsive team that answers questions same-day.
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Clay offers many advantages over other personal CRMs. Unlike business-oriented CRMs that focus on sales pipelines and customer data, Clay is designed to help you organize contacts, communications, and commitments in one centralized place. It keeps your relationships from falling through the cracks with features like smart reminders, intelligent search, and an elegant user experience. Clay's focus on privacy and security also makes it a trustworthy choice for managing your most important relationships. Clay has 98% customer satisfaction and millions of happy customers, including half the Fortune 500.
Clay is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Clay beneficial.
Clay offers competitive pricing in the personal CRM market. Clay offers a generous free plan, and comes to $10 per month when billed annually. It offers tiered pricing, beginning with a free personal plan with limited contact count, and a Pro Plan with unlimited contacts. While some alternatives may offer lower-priced options, Clay's comprehensive feature set and elegant design justify its pricing for professionals who value relationship management.
Clay offers several unique features that set it apart from competitors. Clay focuses on aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of a user's network, consolidating data from various sources. Its Nexus AI feature is particularly innovative, allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network. Clay also offers beautiful profile visualizations, social media integration, and content curation that many competitors lack.
Yes. Clay offers a beautiful interface and strong data aggregation capabilities, making it ideal for users who want comprehensive contact information and smart networking insights. Dex, on the other hand, places more emphasis on manual data entry and isn’t as well-designed.
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