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Westpac has announced the appointment of a new chief financial officer.
Nathan Goonan will take the mantle later in the year, subject to regulatory approval. Current CFO Michael Rowland will remain in the role until this time.
Goonan is transitioning from NAB, where he currently holds the title of group chief financial officer, where he oversees finance and group strategy-related activities.
He has been with NAB since 2013, having over two decades worth of experience in the banking industry.
He began his career in mergers and acquisitions at NAB before transitioning into investment banking.
Anthony Miller, CEO of Westpac, said Goonan’s experience domestically and globally will be an asset for the major.
“Nathan is a seasoned financial services executive, with more than 20 years’ experience across all aspects of banking,” Miller said.
“I’m delighted to appoint someone of Nathan’s calibre to this role. His breadth of knowledge across many areas, coupled with his deep expertise in finance, makes him an ideal fit.”
Goonan has been on the leadership team at NAB since 2020. Prior to this, he was across roles such as strategy, innovation, corporate affairs, and mergers and acquisitions. Before taking the role of CFO, he was group executive, strategy and innovation.
Off the back of Westpac’s announcement, NAB unveiled changes of its own to compensate for the loss of Goonan.
- Andrew Auerbach, an experienced business and wealth banker from Canada, will join NAB as group executive, business and private banking (B&PB) on 16 June.
- Rachel Slade, currently group executive B&PB, will leave NAB on 1 July, allowing for a transition period and to work with Andrew Irvine as a senior adviser.
- Michael Saadie, currently executive, private wealth and CEO of JBWere, acting as group executive B&PB until Auerbach starts at NAB.
- Shaun Dooley, currently group chief risk officer (CRO), acting as group CFO while NAB recruits a new group CFO.
- Peter Whitelaw, currently executive, chief resilience risk officer, acting as group CRO.
“NAB has good business momentum and is executing a clear strategy based on being better for customers and our colleagues. We have great talent and leadership across the bank and I’m confident we will maintain momentum while we embed these changes,” said NAB CEO Irvine.
“Andrew will be a tremendous addition to the NAB team and a strong leader for our leading business bank as we continue to execute our strategy and drive performance in a competitive environment. In particular, he brings a strong track record of improving both customer experiences and financial performance.
“Rachel and Nathan have been dedicated to NAB, very supportive of successive Group CEOs and focused on customers every day. I have appreciated their support in our time together and wish them well for the future.”
