Hartzer slides in to Westpac’s retail bank
(25 November 2011 — Australia) A well-regarded former ANZ banker will run Westpac’s flagship retail bank from next year, with an eye to take over from chief executive Gail Kelly within the next few years.
Brian Hartzer has had a stint running the vast Royal Bank of Scotland retail banking division in the United Kingdom for the past two years, taking charge of more than 2200 branches – over two and a half times the size of Westpac’s.
His experience in the UK comes on the back of his highly-regarded stint last decade building up ANZ’s retail banking business into one of the best performers among the big four.
Kelly is understood to have played a pivotal role in recruiting Hartzer as she seeks to get serious about taking on Commonwealth Bank in the retail market.
Hartzer's ascension to the top job at Westpac is by no means a done deal, with the 44-year-old still having to prove himself as a very capable banker. The second firm candidate in the mix for the chief executive job remains Westpac’s current head of institutional and banking journeyman Rob Whitfield.
Hartzer was also interviewed for the top job at CBA which went to Ian Narev and in 2007 was considered for ANZ’s top job, but they went with HSBC banker Mike Smith.
His experience in the UK comes on the back of his highly-regarded stint last decade building up ANZ’s retail banking business into one of the best performers among the big four.
Kelly is understood to have played a pivotal role in recruiting Hartzer as she seeks to get serious about taking on Commonwealth Bank in the retail market.
Hartzer's ascension to the top job at Westpac is by no means a done deal, with the 44-year-old still having to prove himself as a very capable banker. The second firm candidate in the mix for the chief executive job remains Westpac’s current head of institutional and banking journeyman Rob Whitfield.
Hartzer was also interviewed for the top job at CBA which went to Ian Narev and in 2007 was considered for ANZ’s top job, but they went with HSBC banker Mike Smith.
Subscribe