Reactions: Santander president Emilio Botin dies at age 79
Updated : 11:27
In this section Digital Look will be covering the news relating to the passing away and succession of one of Europe's best known bankers, Emilio Botin, who once famously said: "Give me a bank and I'll control the world". He was the chief arquitect of the Spanish lender's global expansion as he seized the opportunity of successive financial crises, first in Brazil and then in the UK, to expand Santander's footprint.
0809: Sources familiar with the matter have confirmed to Bolsamania.com that the cause of his death was a heart attack.
0802: Spanish lender Santander has informed the country’s market regulator of the death of its President Emilio Botin, at age 79.
The board will meet to appoint a successor on Wednesday, a spokesman for the company said.
Coming from a family of bankers hailing from the northern Spanish province of Santander, Botin will be most remembered for having had the foresight to go against received wisdom, investing in Brazil and the United Kingdom at the height of each country's most recent financial crisis.