Westpac names next CEO, Rest boosts data and insights capability, and ASX appoints new Chair.
Appointments
◼️ Westpac has appointed Anthony Miller [full story in link] as its next chief executive, with incumbent CEO Peter King announcing his retirement.
Miller (pictured) currently heads Westpac’s business and wealth division, joining the firm in 2020 to lead its Institutional Bank (WIB).
Outgoing chief executive Peter King was recognised for his substantial contributions over his three decades with Westpac, including his role over the last five years as CEO overseeing the post-Royal Commission risk remediation program, CORE, business divestiture, and recent tech simplification program, Unite.
King departs Westpac on 15 December, with Miller to become CEO the following day.
◼️ Teachers Mutual Bank (TMB) has appointed Greg Johnson as Chief Customer Officer.
Johnson joins TMB from financial software developer Bravura, where he served as Global Head of Product, Strategy and Marketing.
Across his 25-year career in financial services, Johnson has held senior product, growth and strategy roles, most recently at lendtech developer Nano and prior to this at Challenger, AMP, TAL, CBA, and Aussie Home Loans.
TMB Limited chief executive Anthony Hughes recognised Johnson as “a strong leader with a sound record in delivering great customer outcomes and driving business growth”.
“His experience in the design and execution of strategic growth programs, product strategy, and digital development will be invaluable to our bank as we embark on an ambitious program of work to grow our bank and continue to deliver outstanding customer service,” Hughes said.
Johnson commenced on 2 September 2024.
◼️ Rest has appointed Florence La Carbona as General Manager, Data and Insights, and Kareene Koh as General Manager, Strategy.
As Data and Insights chief, La Carbona will be tasked with strengthening the fund’s data management practices and enhancing both its foundational and advanced data capabilities. Part of Rest’s overarching tech function, she will report to Rest’s Chief Technology and Data Officer, Jeremy Hubbard.
According to Hubbard, La Carbona will play an “instrumental [role] in advancing Rest’s super simplification strategy, and to create “more intuitive, personalised and secure experiences for our members by leveraging data”.
Koh, meanwhile, will be responsible for leading Rest’s strategic planning and alignment. She reports to Tyrone O’Neill, the super fund’s Chief Strategy and Corporate Affairs Officer.
According to O’Neill, Koh will play “a key role in nurturing a culture of strategic innovation within Rest to build on this progress and achieve our ambitions.”
“She is highly experienced in strategic roles across a wide variety of organisations and industries, with a particular focus on digital solutions.”
Rest recognised La Carbona’s more than 15 years’ experience in data-driven strategy and digital transformation roles across the financial services sector. She joins Rest from Resolution Life, and has previously worked in data, analytics and technology roles at Metlife, BT Financial Group, TAL and Westpac.
Koh boasts more than 20 years’ experience across a range of industries, including banking, financial services, media and broadcasting and telecommunications. She joins Rest from the Nine Entertainment Group, where she worked on a range of strategic projects. Prior to this, she served as General Manager at Domain Home Loans. She also held a variety of strategic roles at NAB for more than five years.
Rest said the pair would help deliver critical aspects of the fund’s strategy to simplify the member experience.
◼️ MLC Life Insurance has appointed Gerard Kerr as Chief Executive Individual Business and Jane McGovern as Chief Customer and Strategy Officer.
Kerr, who has notched up more than 25 years’ experience in the FSI space, joins MLC from ClearView Wealth, where he led the firm’s life insurance function. He also previously held roles at Zurich, ANZ Wealth (OnePath Life), and Asteron.
McGovern moves from her current role as MLC Life’s Chief Risk Officer. She joined the MLC in 2022 from icare NSW, where she served as Group Executive, Risk and Governance. Prior to this, she was also CRO at Zurich Australia and held senior leadership roles at Allianz Australia.
MLC Life chief executive Kent Griffin said the appointment of the pair “embodies our commitment to the customer experience and elevates our focus on the individual advised channel, while continuing the work we’re doing to improve our customer and partner proposition”.
Kerr’s new role as Individual Business head would allow MLC “to build on the improvements to our adviser experience and deliver on our promise to customers who receive the critical support of advisers,” Griffin said.
“We’re very fortunate to have someone with Gerard’s breadth of experience and expertise join the executive team at such an important time,” he said.
Griffen also acknowledged McGovern’s tenure as CRO, “[delivering] positive cultural change across the organisation as well as a focus on achieving better outcomes for our customers.
“[Now] she will further strengthen our Total Customer Experience which is the core of our strategy.”
“I’m excited to continue working with Jane to deliver an exceptional experience for our customers and partners,” he added.
◼️ Zurich Resilience Solutions (ZRS), the global financial services giant’s risk intelligence and advisory business, has appointed Dan Elliott to the newly created position of Head of Cyber Resilience.
Elliot most recently served as Principal of Cyber Security Risk Advisory at ZRS Canada.
He previously held senior security roles in the Canadian public service, spanning cyber security, intelligence and risk, including as an Intelligence Officer with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS).
Elliott said he was “delighted to lead and continue bolstering the ZRS Cyber Resilience unit in Australia.”
“As the threat and sophistication of cyber risk continues to rise, it is critical that businesses are equipped with the tools and knowledge required to navigate and build resilience in this complex environment,” he said.
ZRS, launched in 2021 by Zurich, offers specialised risk management and resiliency services for business clients, leveraging, it says “the latest technology and tools, leveraging data and analytics as well as third-party collaborations”. Its risk services span climate change resilience, supply chain and cybersecurity risk.
◼️ Bupa has appointed Kate Williams, as Acting Managing Director, Health Insurance in Australia.
Williams currently serves as Bupa’s Director, Domestic Retail Portfolio, Health Insurance.
The appointment comes following the promotion of Chris Carroll, Bupa’s current health insurance head, to Chief Executive of Bupa Health Insurance in the UK.
Carroll joined Bupa in November 2020 in Williams’ current role, before being promoted Managing Director, Health Insurance, Australia in March 2022.
“Under [Carroll’s] leadership, Bupa’s Health Insurance footprint in Australia has grown to more than 4.4 million customers and following seven consecutive quarters of growth, now has a market share of more than 25 per cent in Australia’s highly competitive market,” Bupa wrote.
Carroll was recognised by Bupa for “revolutionising] the customer experience with a strong focus on creating value for customers, delivering new products, and working together with Bupa’s Australian dental business to provide increased value to health insurance members”.
Williams joined Bupa in 2021 as General Manager, Customer Strategy and Go-to-Market, before her appointment as Director, Domestic Retail Portfolio, in March 2022. In this role, Williams has overseen the delivery of products and services for Bupa’s retail customers in Australia.
Board
◼️ The Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) has appointed David Clarke as its next Chair.
Clarke will replace outgoing Chair Damian Roche, who confirmed he will retire from the ASX Board at the conclusion of the Exchange’s AGM on 28 October.
Clarke is noted as a seasoned director, having served as chair of several ASX-listed company boards, including as current chair of Charter Hall Group, as well as his extensive executive career spanning roles in banking, commercial property and funds management, including as Chief Executive of Investec Bank and Chief Executive of the Westpac-owned BT Financial Group.
Announcing the changes, Roche said: “ASX plays a central role in the nation’s economy, and navigating the process of board renewal in my time as Chair has been key in moving toward our next chapter under our new era strategy.
“As with all transformations, there remains much work to do but I’m confident Helen Lofthouse and her team will continue to drive our strategic outcomes with the guidance of a highly credentialed Chair.
Clarke said: “It is a privilege to take up the role of Chair at an institution that stands at the heart of Australia’s financial markets, and I look forward to working with the Board, Helen and the management team to continue building the capability, trust and confidence befitting a world-class exchange.
“I am honoured to be part of the journey that ensures a successful future for ASX.”
Clarke will assume the role following Roche’s departure after the upcoming AGM.