Media releases

Westpac appoints new national Agribusiness leader

 

17 June 2014

Westpac today announced that Steve Hannan, one of the group’s most senior regional business bankers, has been appointed as its new national general manager responsible for its thriving agribusiness operation.

Mr Hannan, who has worked for Westpac for 25 years, takes over from Graham Jennings who retired from the role of General Manager, Agribusiness, in March. Mr Hannan has been acting in the post since Mr Jennings’ retirement.

A graduate and Fellow of the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation, Mr Hannan brings a wealth of experience to his new role, having previously run the regional, commercial and agribusiness operations in New South Wales and regional commercial business in Queensland for Westpac’s Retail and Business Banking division (WRBB).

Prior to his seven year stint in the NSW job and most recently his Queensland responsibilities which were added to his brief last year, Mr Hannan was Head of Business Banking for Regional NSW and the ACT.

He joined Westpac in January 1989, working across AGC, Commercial Banking, BT & Retail Banking. He has been in senior leadership roles since 1998. He is currently based and lives in Port Macquarie.

“I’m both deeply honoured and excited to have been appointed to lead our dedicated team of agribusiness bankers who are among the very best in the country,” said Mr Hannan. “I’m also delighted to be following in the footsteps of Graham Jennings who served both Westpac and the industry with distinction over his many years with the bank.

“We recognise the agri-industry is of critical importance, not only to regional Australia but also to the future of the country as a whole. In spite of the many challenges it has faced and continues to do so, the industry in all of its forms has shown itself to be dynamic and innovative and our job is to help it maintain its position as a sustainable force both domestically and internationally in the decades to come.”

Mr Hannan, who takes up his new position with immediate effect, reports directly to Alastair Welsh, General Manager of WRBB’s Commercial Banking division.

“Steve has a detailed knowledge and experience of the agribusiness sector and deep connection with our customers and our bankers which made him the ideal candidate to this absolutely key part of our business,” said Mr Welsh. “He is also a passionate advocate for vibrant and sustainable communities in regional, rural and remote Australia.

“As a result he totally embodies Westpac’s long history, now dating back almost 200 years, of supporting Australian farmers through the good times and the tough ones. The next decade will be a key transformational period for farmers and for the post-farm gate industry and Westpac will be right alongside them every step of the way.”