Hornery running NAB corporate banking

Since taking over the role of executive general manager of corporate and specialised business at National Australia Bank five weeks ago, David Hornery has spent a good deal of his time touring regional centres talking to customers.

Hornery said the big question for many businesses was still about the availability of bank funding.

"I have been saying that we are very much open for business. Credit growth in business banking is flat but we are growing our balance sheet, especially in our specialist areas of agribusiness and health."

Hornery is a veteran of ANZ, where he ran global capital markets and Asian operations. In between banking appointments he put in some time working for Kerry Stokes at Australian Capital Equity.

NAB has a very strong share in the business banking market, which might present some challenges for growth, but Hornery believes the opportunity is to deepen relationships.

NAB is investing in its regional business banking centres and agribusiness banking falls into Hornery's area. The bank has 580 agribusiness banking specialists in 110 locations.

Hornery also looks after health and property. The bank's other specialist areas, government and education, are managed in the institutional banking group.