Movers & Shakers

ANZ brings CEO start date forward

Australia and New Zealand Bank (ANZ) has brought the start date for its incoming CEO forward after he closed off commitments from his current role faster than anticipated. Nuno Matos was originally scheduled to take up his new position on 3 July, but the incoming CEO’s start date has been pushed forward to 12 May. At that time, he will also become an executive director of ANZ Group Holdings Limited and Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited.

The major bank has confirmed Shayne Elliott – who was originally scheduled to step down on 2 July – will provide handover support until 30 September. Commenting on Matos’ new start date, ANZ group chairman Paul O’Sullivan said: “With the leadership transition well progressed, we are pleased that Nuno has been able to secure the early fulfilment of his commitments with his previous employer and bring forward his start date.

“I would like to thank Shayne for leading an orderly handover as we enter the second half of our financial year.”

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BOQ Group names new head of business banking

The Bank of Queensland (BOQ) Group has appointed former UBS banker Julian Russell as group executive of its business bank, replacing former business banking chief Chris Screen.

Russell has extensive experience in financial services, having started his career at Merrill Lynch in Ireland before moving to UBS in Sydney, where he served as executive director.

Speaking of the appointment, BOQ managing director and CEO Patrick Allaway said: “Julian is a seasoned executive with a proven track record in leading complex organisations through transformations and returning them to profitable growth.

“I am very optimistic about the future of the business bank under Julian’s leadership, building on BOQ’s record of delivering exceptional outcomes for our business customers.

“We have deliberately selected a non-traditional banker for this role. Julian’s finance and commercial background will bring a fresh perspective to optimising returns in increasingly competitive markets.”

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Peter Vala announces ‘semiretirement’

Thinktank’s Property Finance’s general manager of growth and strategy Peter Vala has transitioned into semiretirement, taking a step back from full-time employment to “pursue targeted engagements”.

Vala has had a long career in banking and finance, spanning numerous roles across major and non-major financial institutions, including ANZ, St.George, ME Bank, and BNZA (NAB).

He joined Thinktank in June 2013, playing a pivotal role in shaping the company’s trajectory and building its book until moving into semiretirement on 31 March.

Commenting on the announcement, Thinktank CEO Jonathan Street acknowledged Vala’s legacy: “As Pete embarks on his next chapter, we extend our deepest gratitude for his many invaluable contributions, including over the last year in focusing on growth and strategy opportunities while managing the smooth handover to new leadership.”

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ING appoints new head of retail

Non-major bank ING Australia has appointed Jennifer Davies as its new head of retail.

Davies – who was most recently the executive general manager, business everyday banking at National Australia Bank (NAB) – has more than four years of banking experience at NAB and more than a decade of experience in transformation and strategic planning.

Davies was also a partner at global management consulting firm McKinsey & Company, with ING noting her work leading “numerous large-scale transformations across B2C and B2B organisations, focused on delivering sustainable commercial results”.

Commenting on her appointment, the lender said Davies had a “strong track record of elevating the customer experience, driving market share and effectively managing risk”.

ING Australia CEO Melanie Evans said: “Jen’s commitment to innovation, strategic thinking and record of delivering outstanding results make her the right person to lead our retail business into the future.”

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