Onur Genç, next CEO of BBVA: "Our strength is in the team"

Question: What was the first thing that came to your mind when you heard the news?

Reply: Well, I must admit that it was a surprise. Two years ago, I left Turkey to go to the United States. and I like this step a lot. In addition, I feel totally committed to the group, I deeply appreciate our purpose and our values ​​and I am delighted to be part of the BBVA transformation project. I think my international experience also reflects the truly global nature of BBVA today. It is an honor to be able to serve the bank under this new responsibility.

Q: How is your leadership style?

R: I am demanding, but I care about people. I call for efforts, but I am also willing to do everything in my power to help those who are willing to move forward. I think everything is reflected in the values ​​of BBVA, but I would like to emphasize some concepts that I always carry with me:

• Team work. We all depend on others to do things well from day to day. I think the value of success is growing as more and more people participate in it. Teamwork is essential.
• Trust. This is the cornerstone of relationships and successful team work. This involves open communication, saying what we think openly, without questioning others. It also involves an open debate until we make a decision and, from there, we unite towards the same goal.
• Responsibility, without compromising teamwork. I believe in the concept of exclusive responsibility. Once the objective and the final product have been defined, there must be a person who badumes the role of driver to do so within a certain time and with the expected quality. You will often hear me ask questions about the person responsible and about the deadlines.
• Action. It means making decisions, acting quickly within the limits of our control. One of our great strengths is fast execution, but always in accordance with the strictest guidelines and controls. "Let's go, let's go" is another phrase that I often use to encourage everyone to act.

It goes without saying that, as the values ​​of BBVA reflect, everything must be integrated into a broader principle of good ethical conduct. This behavior must be an indication of everything we do and how we do it. It's something indispensable, not negotiable.

Q: What are the strengths of your professional career?

R: I've had the chance to work with amazing people throughout my career. I spent 13 years at McKinsey, mainly in consulting with financial entities. I have lived in four countries and led projects in more than ten years. I was the youngest senior partner and director of the office in Turkey, with 34 years old. After McKinsey, I joined Garanti in Turkey. My primary responsibility was to lead the retail banking operations and, thanks to excellent equipment, we were able to gain market share on the main products well above our natural market share, depending on the number of offices and wickets automatic. In addition, we are the undisputed digital leader of the market. After Guaranteed, I joined BBVA in the US, where we have significantly improved benefits over the past two years, achieving better results than most of our competitors. We have become one of the fastest growing retail banks in the country, with first-rate digital capabilities. In addition, the commitment of our employees has skyrocketed; This has improved the satisfaction of our customers and I am very proud of the service we have rendered to the local communities.

In summary, thanks to the people who surround me and to the excellent teams with whom I have had the privilege of working, I have had an incredible experience at different stages. I have always thought that true success lies in the service of all our stakeholders: shareholders, employees, customers and society in general.