Valley National Bank is doubling down on its “innovation-first” philosophy. The bank announced a trio of high-level executive appointments this week, signaling a strategic push to expand its fintech footprint and modernize the customer journey.
The new leadership hires—Rodrigo Suarez, Stephen Schroth and Ed Montesdeoca—will oversee the critical intersection of partner banking, digital channel strategy, and AI-driven customer care.
At the center of Valley’s growth strategy is the appointment of Rodrigo Suarez as head of Partner Banking. Suarez joins Valley with a proven track record of scaling embedded banking platforms. In his previous role at Piermont Bank, he built a payments and fintech ecosystem from the ground up, generating billions in payment volume.
At Valley, Suarez is tasked with:
- Leading embedded banking solutions.
- Overseeing fintech partnerships.
- Unlocking new deposit sources through innovation-driven platforms.
“Rodrigo brings a rare combination of strategic vision and operational rigor,” Russell Barrett, Valley’s senior executive vice president and COO said. “His leadership will help us scale thoughtfully and create sustainable, long-term value.”
To bridge the gap between technology and the human touch, Valley has tapped Stephen Schroth as head of Digital & Assisted Channels. With over 25 years of experience—most notably at KeyBank, where he founded an in-house human-centered design studio—Schroth will focus on creating a seamless, end-to-end digital experience for Valley’s diverse client base.
Rounding out the leadership expansion is Ed Montesdeoca, who joins as lead for Customer Care & Strategy. Coming from a background as a National Service Executive at Capital One, Montesdeoca managed global teams of over 5,000 associates. Notably, he was instrumental in implementing Capital One’s first generative AI initiatives within contact centers to optimize customer journeys.
“Their leadership will help us elevate how we serve our customers,” Patrick Smith, president of Consumer Banking said. “We are strengthening our capabilities across digital and service channels to deliver on our promise of relationship banking.”
