Speaker Bio
Álvaro is Managing Director and Partner from Madrid's office. He leads Payments & Transaction Banking for Europe, Middle East, South America and Africa. He is a core member of the Financial Services Practice and of the Center for Digital in Financial Services
Prior to being MDP, for 6 years he was part of the Executive Committee of two Spanish financial entities, one of them with a digital profile. His responsibilities included Business Development, Marketing and Commercial Intelligence, Digital Banking, Product Development, Innovation and Technology.
Payments and Consumer Finance Experience
• Led the expansion of leading PoS consumer finance player in the Spanish market
• Launched the first BNPL like card in the Spanish market, integrated with phone app
• Migrated +3M card portfolio to leading Iberian processor
• Redesigned and reignited the front book production of leading credit card in Ireland
• Redefined the credit card portfolio for digital bank in Iberia
• Led the commercial launch of "smart" products of a digital challenger bank: smart mutual fund and smart credit card
• Built the digital ecosystem for a leading Spanish retailer leveraging on PSD2, including new merchant payment app
• Designed the payment strategy between a leading soccer club and a financial institution
• Defined acquiring alliance (JV) for top 3 player in the Spanish market
• Definition of the cards (STMP) scheme strategy for the whole Spanish banking industry, resulting in the launch of a new payment solution
• Design of the launch of new digital challenger in the energy sector
• Developed the strategic plan on acquiring and issuing business for leading Financial Institution in 8 different markets in Western Europe and South America
Prior Experience and Education
Before joining BCG, Álvaro held executive positions in the banking and payments industry:
• Member of the Board of Directors of Euro6000 (2012-2014) – Spanish card scheme
• Chairman of Mastercajas (2013-2014) – MC Principal member
• Member of Viacajas's Board (2015-2017) – Visa Principal member
Álvaro Vaca graduated Valedictorian in Industrial Engineering by ICAI, and holds an MBA by the The Wharton School with Palmer Scholar honors