Lara de Mesa

Lara de Mesa is Global Head of Responsible Banking at Santander since 2018. From this position and reporting to the Global Head of Strategy, she leads the function that sets the Sustainability strategy and goals working with all business and support units; internal criteria and methodologies; lead external engagement with sustainability fora and prepare sustainability disclosures. Lara is a member of the UNEPFI Global Steering Committee and of the Principles of Responsible Banking 2030 Core Group, IIF Sustainable Finance Steering and EBF CSO roundtable. She is also Non-Executive Board member of Fundación Santander Portugal and Inclusion Financiera –Tuiio- México, since 2022. Prior to her current role, Lara was Head of Public Policy at Santander and partner of the consultancy firm Analistas Financieros Internacionales. She is IE faculty member on Sustainability and has attended seminars in Cambridge (Sustainability), Harvad (Leadership) and MIT Sloan (Innovation). Master in Economics, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE, UK). Advanced Studies Diploma and Bachelor´s Degree in Economics from Univ. Complutense Madrid, Spain. She is married, has three children and enjoys reading and sport (running, cycling, hiking, yoga and skying). She collaborates with different NGOs and is mentee of young professionals and vulnerable people.