A veteran banker with proven expertise and decades of experience will lead the Bank of New Zealand (BNZ) as its Managing Director and Chief Executive based in Auckland.
Anthony Healy, who has been Director of BNZ Partners for the past four-and-half years, will take over the new role on May 12, 2014.
His appointment is subject to regulatory approval by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand.
He will succeed Andrew Thorburn, who is moving to Australia as Chief Executive of National Australia Bank.
In announcing the appointment, BNZ Board Chairman John Waller said that he and other members of the Board were pleased that Mr Healy had accepted the offer.
“As Director of BNZ Partners, he has demonstrated the commercial leadership, vision and character required to step up and lead the company, building on a long and successful career in business and commercial banking around the world. We congratulate Anthony on his appointment and wish him every success in leading a company whose commitment to the prosperity of New Zealand is longstanding,” he said.
Succession planning
Mr Waller said that the BNZ Board has a strong focus on succession and leadership planning, drawing on the quality of the senior people working at the Bank.
The quick selection of Mr Thorburn’s successor is testament to that process, and gives BNZ’s people clarity and certainty, he said.
Mr Waller said that BNZ Partners has grown from strength to strength under Mr Healy’s stewardship, also enjoying sustained success in agriculture and business markets. His contribution to the Bank has extended far beyond the purely commercial, as shown by his leadership of the Bank’s diversity programme.
Helping New Zealanders
Mr Healy said he was thrilled with the appointment.
“The time is right for me to step into this role and help BNZ to build on the core strengths it has developed over the past five-and-a-half years under the leadership of Mr Thorburn. Building on BNZ’s long and proud tradition of helping New Zealanders to be good with money, a core part of our strategy is to focus on the segments that will matter profoundly to New Zealand’s future too. “Our investment in digital capability and technology platforms will enable us to keep meeting our customers’ needs. Our commitment to Maori business is strong, and our Asia strategy will keep our customers connected with emerging opportunities in a region whose importance to New Zealand will become ever greater in this century.
“From my first day in my new job, I will be devoting myself to building on these advantages, and helping BNZ to win in our chosen segments. I can’t wait to get started, and work closely with a great team of 5500 people across New Zealand,” he said.
A BNZ communique said that the Bank will announce the name of the new Director of BNZ Partners in due course.
Distinguished career
Prior to joining BNZ in November 2009, Mr Healy held a number of senior executive and director-level roles for 18 years in New Zealand, Australia, Asia and the Middle East. He had worked for the ANZ Group and was the Chief Executive of UDC Finance. He was the Deputy Group Managing Director of AmBank Group in Malaysia and a Director of its Investment Bank, Commercial Bank, Insurance Company and Funds Management business.
He holds post graduate diplomas in Finance and Economics and a graduate degree (BSc) with a double major in Economics and Psychology from the University of Melbourne. Married to Kate, the couple have two children.
Business Awards
Indian Newslink congratulates Anthony Healy on his appointment as Chief Executive of BNZ and wishes him the best in his new role. We are proud that BNZ is the Title Sponsor of the Indian Newslink Indian Business Awards for the fourth successive year.
The Bank is also hosting five workshops for potential entrants, three in Auckland and two in Wellington. For details, please see our advertisement appearing on Page 16 in this issue.
For registration, please email editor@indiannewslink.co.nz or manishtanna@xtra.co.nz; Mr Tanna can be contacted on 021-822772.
