Bendigo and Adelaide Bank unveils new execs, APRA to fill longstanding CISO vacancy, and Zurich appoints new risk chief.

Appointments

◼️ Bendigo and Adelaide Bank has announced several changes to its executive line-up, with:

• Taso Corolis appointed Chief Customer Officer, Consumer Banking.Carolis has served as Bendigo’s Chief Risk Officer over the last six years, recognised over this time for his tireless advocacy for customers. Joining Bendigo subsidiary Rural Bank in 2008, Carolis was previously the bank’s Head of Risk Analytics, Governance and Reporting.
• Sarah Bateson promoted to Chief Marketing Officer, leading the bank’s newly formed Brand, Marketing and Communications Division.

“[Bateson’s] experience is highly valued as the Bank unites its communication and marketing resources for greater impact,” Bendigo wrote in a statement. “She will be a strong voice for creative growth at the Bank, as she continues to build national awareness for the Bendigo Bank brand and its purpose.”

• Xavier Shay appointed as Chief Digital Officer. Shay will serve as Group CDO in addition to his current role as CEO of Bendigo’s digital-only subsidiary Up.

As part of his new role, Shay will oversee the Bank’s digital capabilities, responsible “for driving greater penetration” of the Bank’s digital offerings across the Bendigo and Up brands.

Announcing the changes on Monday, recently anointed Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Chief Executive and Managing Director Richard Fennell said new senior appointees would support the bank’s growth agenda, as the group boasts significant progress with its transformation program.

“We have entered the financial year with momentum and growth on our side. This has been made possible by the strong foundations we have created by simplifying, modernising and digitising the Bank,” Fennell said.

“The time is right to accelerate the next phase of our development by continuing to invest in the areas that will help us deliver sustainable growth such as our digital bank Up, the Bendigo Lending Platform and the Business and Agri transformation.”

Bateson and Shay will commence their new roles immediately, with Corolis assuming his new role on 7 October.

◼️ The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) is on the hunt for a new Chief Information Security Officer (CISO).

An official job posting by APRA, reported by publisher iTNews, disclosed the regulator’s intention to fill the currently vacant executive cybersecurity role. According to the posting, the new CISO will be responsible for “the safety and security of APRA’s data, personnel, and assets, with… [an] emphasis on internal policy setting, advice, assurance, and operational excellence”.

The CISO is a member of the APRA Senior Leadership Team and the Technology & Data (T&D) Executive Leadership Team, and reporting to the Executive Director.

Key external stakeholders include Australian Cyber Security Centre, Home Affairs, ASIC, and RBA, and industry associations.

iTnews noted that APRA has not declared an official C-level security leader since May 2022, following the departure of former Chief Security Officer Mikhail Lopushanski.

◼️ Zurich has appointed David Wainwright as Chief Risk Officer for its Australia and New Zealand arm.

He succeeds Jaimie Sach, who announced his departure after five years in the role.

Zurich Chief Executive Justin Delaney said Wainwright “will play a key role in driving Zurich’s local risk strategy against a backdrop of an increasingly complex environment”.

Wainwright joins from Zurich’s UK arm where he is currently Chief Risk Officer for its Life business.

Wainwright, who counts nearly 25 years’ in the financial services sector, has served in a number of risk management and leadership roles, including at Nomura Securities, Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBOS) and HSBC Global Banking and Markets.

Wainwright will commence in his new at the beginning of 2025. He will report to Sid Medappa, Zurich’s Regional Head of Risk for Asia Pacific (APAC).

◼️ Mercer Super has named Claire Ross as Chief Executive, stepping up from her current role as Chief Operating Officer.

She replaces Tim Barber as CEO, who recently joined professional services firm Marsh McLennan.

Ross joined Mercer in 2007, serving in a number of senior leadership roles, including her most recent appointment as COO earlier this year.

As Mercer Super Chief Executive, she reports to Cathy Hales, Mercer’s Pacific Wealth CEO.

“With a strong track record of operational effectiveness, Claire’s passion for delivering positive outcomes for members to and through retirement will enable Mercer Super to be strategically positioned for the future,” Hale said.

Ross has notched up more than 30 years in operational management and administration services leadership across Australia, the UK, and the US.

Appointments

◼️ The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) has appointed Kate Howitt to its board, effective 1 October 2024.

Howitt was recognised by CBA for her “deep understanding of strategy, capital allocation, stakeholder management and sustainability”. She is currently a member of the Finance & Strategy Committee and Investments Sub-Committee of the University of New South Wales, among other board roles.

Across an extensive executive career, Howitt held senior roles with Fidelity International, AMP Capital, AMP Limited and The Boston Consulting Group.

CBA has also announced that Anne Templeman-Jones will retire from its Board following the 2024 Annual General Meeting (AGM).

CBA Chair Paul O’Malley recognised Templeman-Jones’ “invaluable” contributions to the board, singling out her role as Chair of the Board Audit Committee Chair.

Peter Harmer will step up as Chair of the Board Audit Committee at the conclusion of the AGM on 16 October 2024.

◼️ Great Southern Bank (GSB) has appointed Deborah O’Toole as its next Chair.

O’Toole, an existing member of the GSB board, will take over from retiring Chair Nigel Ampherlaw after the bank’s AGM on 7 November 2024.

O’Toole boasts more than 30 years in senior leadership roles, including as former CFO at Aurizon, Queensland Cotton and MIM Holdings.

She currently serves as Chair of Transurban Qld Finance, Non-Executive Director of Sims Limited, Pacific National Rail, and Sydney Airport Corporation Limited, and was formerly a Non-Executive Director of the CSIRO, Alumina Limited, Boart Longyear and Boral Limited.

Ampherlaw welcomed the appointment of O’Toole, whom he said would bring “continuity, passion and commitment to our bank”.

O’Toole recognised the outgoing Chair’s years of service in the role, in a period of unprecedented “change, growth and challenge”.

“During his tenure as Chairman, Great Southern Bank grew the Group’s assets by almost 40 per cent and, most importantly, we continued to be guided by our mutual values and founding principles of providing fair and affordable finance,” she said.