Samantha Ricciardi was named global CEO of Santander Asset Management, according to an employee memo provided by the firm.
In February, Ms. Ricciardi will replace board Chairman Victor Matarranz, who has been leading the business in the interim since the departure of the previous CEO, Mariano Belinky.
Mr. Belinky was appointed industry partner at private equity firm Motive Partners earlier in November.
In the Santander memo, Mr. Matarranz said Ms. Ricciardi brings international background in terms of fund distribution, management and business development to the role.
It is not yet known where Ms. Ricciardi will be based.
Ms. Ricciardi was most recently head of strategic clients and solutions team for Europe, the Middle East and Africa at BlackRock. A BlackRock spokeswoman said a replacement for Ms. Ricciardi has not yet been named.
According to a separate internal memo from BlackRock, Stephen Cohen, head of EMEA asked Roberto Speranza, managing director and deputy head of BlackRock's financial markets advisory group in EMEA to become the "primary point of contact" within the strategic clients and solutions team as the firm develops its plans.
Santander AM had €181 billion ($215.5 billion) in assets under management as of June 30.
