MADRID, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Christiana Riley will succeed

Tim Wennes as new Chief Executive Officer at Santander

in the United States to lead the next phase of growth, Santander

Excutive Chair Ana Botin said on Friday in a message on social

platform Instagram.

"Christiana will become CEO of Santander US and I am

confident she is well-placed to lead the next phase of growth in

this critical market," Botin said.

Botin thanked Wennes for transforming Santander US and

"laying the foundations for continued growth and success."