Popular Inc. names new leadership for U.S. operations and customer experience

Popular Inc. (NASDAQ: BPOP) announced executive leadership changes effective July 1, 2026, according to a company statement.

Israel Velasco will become Executive Vice President and Head of U.S. Operations at Popular Bank, the company's mainland U.S. banking subsidiary. Velasco has led the corporation's Florida operations for 21 years and will join the Senior Management Team.

Manuel A. Chinea, who has led U.S. operations for 13 years, will transition to the newly created role of Chief Experience and Administration Services Officer. In this position, he will oversee Customer Experience, Human Resources, Corporate Real Estate and Marketing. Chinea has worked at Popular for 38 years and has been part of the Senior Management Team for 10 years.

The appointments coincide with the retirement of Eduardo J. Negrón, who will conclude his career at Popular on June 30, 2026. Negrón has served as Chief Administration Officer since February 2022 and held other senior leadership positions since joining the corporation in 2000.

"Popular's management team is laser-focused on achieving our goals to be the number one bank for our customers, build a simple and efficient best-in-class organization, and deliver top financial performance," said Javier D. Ferrer, President and Chief Executive Officer.

Popular Inc. is a Puerto Rico-based financial institution that ranks among the top 50 U.S. bank holding companies by assets. The company provides retail, mortgage and commercial banking services in Puerto Rico, the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, and operates branches in New York, New Jersey and Florida through its mainland U.S. subsidiary.

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