Santander Bank appoints Blythe Masters as senior blockchain advisor

Rage Review : Blythe Masters announced her resignation last week because Santander Consumer USA failed to meet corporate operating standards and was opposed by the US Federal Reserve. Santander Bank of Spain appointed Blythe Masters, CEO of Digital Asset Holdings (DAH), as its senior blockchain consultant for Santander Bank. Blythe's expertise in banking, commerce and blockchain can have a significant impact on Santander Bank of Spain's digital bank, international advisory board and strategic group.

Translation: Nicole

Spanish bank Santander has appointed Digital Asset Holdings (DAH) CEO Blythe Masters as its senior blockchain advisor to Santander.

Blythe Masters

Masters most recently served as non-executive chairman of Santander Consumer USA, a Santander bank division that provides automated lending services, but has now left the company.

According to a press release from Santander, Masters now takes on a newly created position and also joins the International Advisory Board of Santander Spain and the Internet Banking Board of Openbank.

Ana Botín, CEO of Santander Spain, said in a statement: “Blythe will bring her expertise in banking, commerce and blockchain, all of which will have a significant impact on our digital bank, international advisory board and strategy group. She has performed very well at Santander and I look forward to having her focus on our digital bank around the world.”

It is unclear what impact the appointment will have on DAH’s strategy. In early 2016 the startup received more than $60 million in funding to provide distributed ledger infrastructure for asset settlement, and has since signed deals with the DTCC and the Australian Securities Exchange.

Ana Botín

Santander InnoVentures, the venture capital arm of Santander Bank, has participated in the financing round.

The Wall Street Journal pointed out that Blythe Masters announced her resignation last week after Santander Consumer USA failed to meet corporate operating standards and was opposed by the US Federal Reserve.

Following the news, board member William Rainer will assume the role of chairman of the board.

Digital Asset Holdings did not immediately respond to a request for comment.