BankWest post goes east

BANKWEST parent HBOS Australia has announced that its new head of rural and regional operations will be based in Melbourne, continuing the drift of key positions to the east coast. Jamie Ritchie will report to the chief executive of the bank’s corporate and business division Paul Clark, who is also based in Melbourne. Mr Ritchie’s appointment follows the bank’s decision earlier this year to transfer its chief financial officer role to Sydney, where HBOS Australia chief executive David Willis is based. Other changes made by HBOS since it gained full ownership of BankWest include the transfer of its financial markets operation to Sydney. Mr Ritchie’s role was previously filled on an acting basis by experienced rural banker Jim Watson, who will continue to head the bank’s rural operation in WA. HBOS said its rural and regional operation would continue to operate under the BankWest brand. Mr Ritchie previously held the role of general manager of business banking at Westpac.