Dario Fuentes Alvarez

Most partnerships don’t fail because of product. They fail because incentives were never aligned. Over 25 years across Santander, PayPal, and global financial institutions, I have built and closed high-stakes partnerships, launched businesses, and governed organizations at the intersection of payments, fintech, banking, and platforms. I operate across three roles simultaneously: executive, board director, and advisor. – As an executive, I have led P&Ls across 19 countries, structured partnerships with Apple, Verizon, and Stripe, launched Zinia (a BNPL platform reaching 4 million contracts in its first two years), and built one of Florida’s first internationally licensed banking agencies from the ground up. I hold deep regulatory knowledge across Fed, OFAC, OCC, and European frameworks. – As a board director and governance leader, I bring experience from the inside of boards, audit committees, executive committees, and industry associations at the intersection of finance, regulation, and international trade: · President and Board Member, Florida International Bankers Association (FIBA): led advocacy for 80+ international banks across the US and Latin America, with direct engagement with Washington and the Federal Reserve ·Treasurer, Member of the Board and Executive Committee, US-Spain Chamber of Commerce ·Board of Directors Member and Vice-Chair of Leadership America, Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce ·Board Member and Audit Committee Member, Credito Inmobiliario (Mexico): a Sofom institution, advised on US market strategy and participated in a cross-border merger process These are not honorary titles. They represent real governance accountability: budget oversight, fiduciary responsibility, regulatory advocacy, M&A processes, and cross-border decisions. – As an advisor, I work with companies that need judgment in high-stakes environments, not just execution. I specialize in fintech and payments strategy, go-to-market for regulated markets, and partnership structuring across the US, Europe, and Latin America. The companies that win in this space share three things: they control distribution, not just product. They align incentives before deals close. They execute before certainty exists. I have completed 8 Ironman. Different arena. Same principle: when everything tells you to slow down, results depend on clarity and execution. If you are building or scaling in payments, fintech, or platform ecosystems, or looking for a non-executive director with genuine financial services governance experience, I am open to the right conversations.