Ex-NSW Premier returns to NAB
The former NSW Premier, Mike Baird, has taken up the role of chief customer officer, corporate and institutional banking at NAB.
In an announcement NAB said it had also appointed Sharon Cook as its chief legal and commercial counsel, and Patrick Wright as chief technology and operations officer.
NAB chief executive, Andrew Thorburn, said the appointments would accelerate the execution of their business strategy.
Baird started his career at NAB in 1989 and spent 17 years working in corporate and institutional banking roles in Australia and overseas at NAB, Deutsche Bank, and HSBC, before entering politics.
“His time as Treasurer and Premier of New South Wales means he returns to banking and NAB with invaluable experience in leading economic and financial reform to grow the economy,” Thorburn said.
“Mike has outstanding leadership and a determination to drive change and make a difference by building relationships with customers and the community.”
Cook was most recently a managing partner at King & Wood Mallesons and had extensive experience in the banking and financial sector.
“In a period of significant industry reform and heightened public focus on banking, this is a new and important role on our executive leadership team,” Thorburn said.
Prior to NAB, Wright was Barclay’s global chief operations and technology officer of Barclaycard in the US.
Thorburn said Wright would lead the simplification, digitisation, and automation agenda to deliver greater efficiency and to create a simpler and easier experience for its customers and bankers.
Subject to regulatory approval, Baird and Cook will start in mid-April, and Wright in mid-May.
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