Ana Botin Succeeds Father Becoming Top Female Banker

Ana Patricia Botin becomes the most powerful woman in European banking, succeeding her father as chairman of Banco Santander SA.

Santander’s board late yesterday named Botin, 53, to the top executive post at Europe’s second-biggest bank by market value. Botin, who is giving up her role as chief executive officer of Santander’s U.K. business, replaces her father, Emilio, who died of a heart attack Sept. 9 at the age of 79.