Media releases
Group Executive Changes - 12 August 2010
12 August 2010
The Westpac Group today announced that, after a distinguished career spanning nearly 30 years with St.George, Greg Bartlett will be retiring as St.George’s CEO, effective 1 December 2010.
Mr Bartlett joined St.George in 1982 and has held a variety of senior positions during his career, including 18 years on the Executive Management Committee. Before being appointed St.George’s CEO on 1 December 2008, he was Group Executive Institutional and Business Banking for nine years and prior to that he led the Group Treasury & Capital Markets Division.
Westpac CEO, Gail Kelly, thanked Mr Bartlett for his significant contribution to St.George over many years.
“Greg is an excellent banker and it has been a real privilege for me to have worked with him over the best part of the last decade. He has led St.George with great passion for the brand and dedication to the bank’s customers, staff and local communities.
“The Westpac/St.George merger has exceeded our already high expectations, and this is in no small part due to Greg’s efforts. Under his leadership St.George has continued to build on the distinct brand attributes that make it so successful, and its customer advocacy remains the highest of the five largest banks.
“He will leave St.George in great shape,” Mrs Kelly said.
Mr Bartlett said it had been a privilege to lead St.George and its 6,000 staff. “We knew we had a critical role to play in making the Group’s multi-brand strategy a success and I am very proud of what our people have been able to achieve while at the same time preserving our unique customer service culture. Our people are our heart and soul. I know that the team will continue to ensure that St.George goes from strength to strength.
“However, with the merger bedded down the time is now right to step back from day to day executive life and pass on the baton. I wish Gail and my colleagues every success for the future,” he said.
Mrs Kelly also announced that Rob Chapman will be appointed Chief Executive of St.George to take effect when Mr Bartlett retires on 1 December 2010.
Mr Chapman is currently CEO of BankSA, a position he has held with distinction for over 8 years. During that time BankSA has maintained a continuous record of double digit growth in cash earnings. He has also served on the Executive Committee of St.George throughout that period.
“We are very fortunate to have an executive of Rob’s calibre ready to step into the role as St.George’s CEO,” Mrs Kelly said.
“His deep multi-brand expertise at St.George and BankSA, combined with exceptional banking and commercial acumen, make Rob an ideal appointment,” she said.
A new CEO of BankSA will be announced shortly.