ANZ appoints new deputy CEO

Last month, it was announced that Graham Hodges, who had held a wide range of senior executive roles at the big four bank and had been deputy chief executive officer since May 2009, was to retire in “early May”.

Following on from Mr Hodges’ retirement, it has now been revealed that Alexis George will be promoted to deputy CEO this month, while maintaining her current role as group executive, wealth, Australia.

She will continue to lead the divestment of ANZ’s life insurance, superannuation and aligned dealer group businesses and maintain the senior relationship management of ANZ's wealth product partners in Australia.

Ms George will also take on responsibility for ANZ’s group service centres as well as “assisting chief executive officer Shayne Elliott with group-wide initiatives including ANZ’s engagement with [the] government, regulators and employees”.

The new deputy CEO first joined ANZ in 2013 as managing director, insurance, and has held her current title of group executive, wealth, Australia since 2016.

Prior to joining ANZ, she was CEO for insurance and direct banking at ING Insurance Czech Republic and Slovakia.

New group executive, Australian business and private banking

As well as Ms George’s promotion, the group has announced that its managing director, business and private banking, Mark Hand, has been appointed as group executive for Australian business and private banking on the executive committee.

In his new role, Mr Hand will be responsible for “building the best bank for customers who want to start, run or grow a business across Australia”.

He will continue to report to group executive, Australia, Fred Ohlsson.

Mr Hand joined ANZ in 1988 and has held senior roles across business and retail banking, credit management and internal audit in Australia and South Asia.

He is chair of ANZ’s diversity council in Australia and was a director of the Diversity Council of Australia until 2015. He also served as a director of ANZ Bank Taiwan Limited and ANZ Trustees prior to its sale.

Ms George’s and Mr Hand’s appointments will be effective from 15 May 2018.

Speaking of the appointments, ANZ CEO Shayne Elliott said: “With the retirement of Graham Hodges after a long and distinguished career with ANZ, I’m pleased to be able to appoint two executives with broad experience from within to critical roles at an important time in ANZ’s transformation.

“Alexis’ appointment as deputy CEO is testament to her strong leadership across the bank and the work she has done to simplify our wealth businesses in Australia. She has significant international experience in managing the operations of large, complex businesses and will make a valuable contribution as we continue to improve engagement with [the] government, regulators and, of course, our people.”

He continued: “Having Mark join the executive committee is a natural next step in our progress to building the best bank for those who want to start, run or grow a business.

“His deep corporate network will benefit ANZ and I’m confident Mark will be a strong champion of Australian business owners at our executive committee. I also look forward to him continuing his work in advocating for our people, particularly in the space of diversity and inclusion.”

[Related: ‘Golden age’ of banking is over: ANZ CEO]