Patrick Smith

HEAD OF CONSUMER AND BUSINESS BANKING, SANTANDER BANK, N.A.

Patrick Smith leads Consumer & Business Banking at Santander Bank, N.A., and is a member of the U.S. leadership team. He is responsible for driving the strategy for Santander’s retail branch network, small business banking, corporate & social responsibility, digital, retail operation, and investments. Consumer & Business Banking provides financial services to nearly 2 million households and small business customers through nearly 500 retail branches, and more than 2,000 ATMs in 7 states in addition to locations in Wilmington, DE, and Miami.

Prior to joining Santander, Patrick served as executive vice president and Head of Commercial Digital at KeyBank, as well as a member of the company’s executive council. Over his nearly 30-year career in financial services, Patrick held a variety of leadership positions at Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Capital One. Previously, he also worked in Accenture’s strategy practice servicing clients globally.

Patrick received an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, an MS in IT Management from the university of Virginia, and a BS in Finance from Tuskegee University.

Currently, Patrick serves on the boards of BDC Capital, BECU, and Beacon Academy.

John Starkey PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER, PLANT BASED BUSINESS UNIT, DANONE NORTH AMERICA

After graduating with a B.A. in Economics (with honors) from Oberlin College, John started his career in 1990 as Financial Analyst in the General Electric Financial Management Training Program where he rotated through various developmental assignments in the US and London. After completing his MBA at the University of Michigan, he joined General Mills as an Assistant Marketing Manager in 1995. During his 15 years there John carried out several Associate and Manager roles before becoming a Marketing Director in 2003.

From 2003-2010 John held director roles leading the General Mills Marketing Excellence program, Bakeries & Foodservice, 8th Continent Soymilk, and the Health & Wellness COE. In 2010 John joined Mars as Senior Marketing Director of the 5 gum, Extra Gum, and Altoids Mints brands. Then in 2012, he was Senior Category Director, Confections & Mints where he tripled the growth rate of the business and made Skittles the #1 confectionary brand in the US. He was then promoted to Vice President, Gum, and Mints in 2014 where he returned the business to growth after 5 years of decline.

In 2016, he was appointed Regional Vice President of Marketing, Wrigley Americas before becoming Global Brand Lead, Dove and Galaxy in 2017. During his tenure on Dove/Galaxy John led key stakeholders from China, US, UK, Saudi/Gulf and a multifunctional team of reports through the development of a 5 year innovation and portfolio strategy as well as integrated business plans that brought the global business from decline back to growth faster than the category in 2018 and 2019.

In June 2020 John was promoted to Global Vice President, Bars Portfolio at Mars where he developed the 3-5 year global growth strategy for the business and led the development of the global innovation pipeline for the portfolio that has generated 3 breakthrough ideas targeted for launch starting in 2022. Under his leadership the global bars portfolio returned to growth in 2021. In June of 2021, John joined Danone North America as the President and General Manager of the Plant Based Business unit. He has leadership and P&L responsibility of the plant based portfolio inclusive of the Silk and So Delicious brands across the plant based beverage, ice cream, and cheese categories. Under his leadership the Danone North America Plant based business in 2022 has delivered the share growth on the plant based beverage portfolio for the 1st time since 2017.