The final piece in Shayne Elliott's overhaul of ANZ's senior executive team will be revealed early next year when the bank announces a replacement for outgoing chief risk officer, Nigel Williams.Williams yesterday announced he would be departing the bank in March to pursue a career as a non-executive director.The Kiwi banker joined ANZ in 2004 following the acquisition of the National Bank of New Zealand.Since taking over the CRO role in 2011, he has spent much of his time mopping up risk management failures that have tarnished the bank's reputation following the global financial crisis in 2008.Williams played a big hand in resolving many of the bank's damaging controversies, including the recent A$50 million settlement of ASIC's BBSW rate rigging claim and legacy issues flowing from the Opes Prime scandal.He leaves behind him much unfinished work, particularly in relation to the group's culture and political fallout from parliamentary inquiries that are highlighting potential failings in the treatment of farm borrowers.According to an internal email leaked to media last week, internal whistle-blower complaints at the bank have risen 80 per cent this year.While that might be viewed as a negative development for the bank, it probably reflects well on Williams' performance in the CRO role. The rise in whistle-blower activity suggests staff might be more confident about communicating concerns over inappropriate behaviour and misconduct in their workplaces. Williams is the last member of the senior executive team who still holds the same role as when Elliott took over as CEO last year. Elliott said Williams' successor would be announced early in 2018."There is an opportunity with this appointment to build on Nigel's legacy by expanding the contribution which risk leadership can make to our transformation," he said."This includes further strengthening ANZ's open and inclusive culture, and continuing to build strong, mutually respectful relationships with our regulators."