Fidelity International, (“Fidelity”), a global asset manager and retirement savings business, is pleased to announce the appointment of Samantha Ricciardi as Head of EMEA, effective start of March.

Ricciardi, currently CEO at Santander Asset Management, will be responsible for leading the continued growth and strategic development of Fidelity International’s EMEA business. She will be based in Madrid and spend regular time across the region.

In her role at Santander, Ricciardi led the transformation of the business into a top-tier European asset manager, achieving strong year-on-year growth and spearheading a wide range of strategic initiatives. Previously, she held senior roles at BlackRock , including Managing Director for EMEA and Country Head for BlackRock Mexico.

Commenting on the appointment, Keith Metters, President at Fidelity International, commented: “Samantha is a dynamic and highly accomplished leader with a remarkable track record across the EMEA region. We are delighted to welcome her to Fidelity International as we continue to strengthen our leadership team and accelerate our strategic ambitions for clients and partners.”

Ricciardi’s appointment follows Christian Staub’s decision to step back from his current role as Head of EMEA and transition into an advisory position.

Keith Metters added: “We are grateful for Christian’s significant contributions and are pleased that he will continue to support the business in an advisory capacity.”