Chris de Bruin: From SCB via fintechs to head of Westpac consumer
Turnover in Westpac’s senior executive ranks continues, with the appointment of Chris de Bruin to head the consumer division.
Since the start of the year, the bank has appointed a new chief financial officer, a new institutional banking chief executive, a new combined office of CTO/COO and established a new specialist business division to review sub-scale businesses.
de Bruin is moving to Westpac from Dubai financial institution Deem, where he has been chief executive since 2018.
Prior to that he was president of Canadian fintech Zafin. He spent 13 years at Standard Chartered, where his last role was global head of retail products and digital banking.
He replaces David Lindberg, who left in May.
In July, Westpac appointed investment banker Anthony Miller as Westpac Institutional Bank chief executive, replacing the retiring Lyn Cobley.
Miller moved to Westpac from Deutsche Bank, where he was Australia and New Zealand chief executive and co-head of investment bank Asia Pacific. He worked at Goldman Sachs for 16 years before that.
Also in July, the bank appointed KPMG partner Michael Rowland as its new chief financial officer. Rowland was a partner in KPMG’s management consulting practice, where he specialised in financial services.
Rowland worked at ANZ between 2009 and 2013, where his roles included CFO of institutional banking, CFO of wealth and CFO New Zealand.
Other changes at the bank include giving long-time Westpac executive Les Vance the role of group executive financial crime, compliance and conduct.
The former general manager of Westpac’s retail and business bank, Jason Yetton, was brought back in May to head a new specialist business division, which is reviewing a number of sub-scale businesses.