SAO PAULO, March 19 (Reuters) - Lender Santander Brasil

chose the Chief Executive Officer of exchange

operator B3, Gilson Finkelsztain, as its new CEO to

replace Mario Leao, it said on Thursday.

Finkelsztain will take the role after a transition period

expected to conclude by mid-year, Santander Brasil said in a

filing.

Leao, who has been the CEO of the bank since 2022, will

leave the post by July, it added.

B3 said in a separate filing it will announce a successor

for Finkelsztain, who has led the exchange operator for nearly

nine years, in due course once its succession process is

concluded.

Reuters reported earlier on Thursday, citing a source, that

the Brazilian unit of Spain's Santander had tapped

Finkelsztain as CEO.