The non-major has appointed ex-Westpac New Zealand CEO Peter Clare to its board of directors, following the previously announced retirement of Vivienne Quinn from the board after 25 years of service.
Mr Clare has held various senior roles at Commonwealth Bank and has served on the senior executive teams at both St.George and Westpac, including over two years as CEO of Westpac New Zealand.
In recent times, the Sydney-based director has served as a non-executive director on a range of boards in both the technology and finance industries within Australia.
The announcement was made by chairman Kerry Betros prior to Thursday’s meeting of the board.
Mr Betros welcomed Mr Clare to this board, commenting on his vast experience in the industry.
“Peter has an extremely impressive banking background, and his knowledge would be welcomed on the board of any financial institution around the country,” Mr Betros said.
“Peter’s deep understanding of banking, coupled with his experience in the technology industry, will be invaluable to Heritage as we continue our digital transformation process.
“We’re delighted that Peter has chosen to join us as a director. We welcome him to Heritage and we look forward to leveraging his deep knowledge of the sector to help us maintain our success.”
Commenting on his appointment, Mr Clare stated he was “excited to have the opportunity” to work with Heritage and noted the bank’s growth.
“I believe I’ve got something to add. I like the brand, the brand positioning and the culture of the customer-owned bank proposition.”
Mr Clare joins the Heritage board effective from Thursday, 30 April, coinciding with the resignation of Ms Quinn, who attended her final meeting on Thursday.
[Related: Heritage announces board changes]