Westpac makes board appointment

Westpac has announced the appointment of Audette Exel AO as an independent on-executive director, effective 1 September 2021.

Ms Exel will become a member of the board risk committee and the board technology committee following her appointment.

Ms Exel has more than 35 years’ experience in the global financial services markets as a senior executive, non-executive director and social entrepreneur.

She is the founder and chair of Adara Group, a global non-government organisation and social enterprise.

Her previous roles have included non-executive director at Suncorp Group, managing director of Bermuda Stock Exchange-listed Bermuda Commercial Bank, chair of the Bermuda Stock Exchange, director of Steamship Mutual, and director of Bermuda’s central financial services regulator.

She began her career as a lawyer specialising in international finance.

Commenting on Ms Exel’s appointment, Westpac chairman John McFarlane said: “We are delighted to welcome Audette to the board. Audette’s extensive business leadership experience, entrepreneurship and deep contribution to philanthropy will bring new insights to the board and complement Westpac’s purpose of helping Australians and New Zealanders succeed.”

Speaking of her appointment to the major bank’s board, Ms Exel said that she was “honoured to join the board of Australia’s oldest company”.

“Westpac is hugely important to the lives of so many Australians and New Zealanders, and has played an important role in the economic and social fabric of those countries,” she said.

“I very much look forward to becoming part of the Westpac Group and to working with John and the board.”

[Related: Major bank appoints non-executive director]

Malavika Santhebennur is the features editor on the mortgages titles at Momentum Media.

Before joining the team in 2019, Malavika held roles with Money Management and Benchmark Media. She has been writing about financial services for the past six years.