Changes are afoot at HBOS and its BankWest subsidiary with the chief executive of the company's Australian Retail Division - and BankWest chief - Chris Whitehead taking up a position with UK parent company HBOSplc.
Changes are afoot at HBOS and its BankWest subsidiary with the chief executive of the company's Australian Retail Division - and BankWest chief - Chris Whitehead taking up a position with UK parent company HBOSplc.
He will be replaced by HBOS's Ian Corfield, who had previously worked as the executive director of retail and intermediary activities for HBOS Ireland.
Mr Corfield will commence in Perth in April 2007.
The full text of a company announcement is pasted below
HBOS Australia CEO David Willis today announced changes to his executive leadership team.
He has appointed Ian Corfield as Chief Executive for HBOS Australia's Retail Division following the move by incumbent Chief Executive Chris Whitehead to take up an executive position as Regional Sales Manager for Scotland West on secondment with parent company HBOSplc in the UK.
Mr Corfield, who was previously Executive Director, Retail and Intermediary HBOS Ireland will commence in Perth in April 2007.
He will report to HBOS Australia CEO David Willis and will have responsibility for managing HBOS Australia's retail banking division, under the BankWest brand.
Mr Willis said the interchange between Australia and the UK demonstrated the benefits of belonging to a global organisation with a wide pool of both talent and opportunities.
"I am delighted to welcome Ian to my leadership team. Our retail business is expanding rapidly thanks to the national growth strategy we have put in place and I look forward to working with him.
"Ian has a strong track record of achievement growing retail banking in Ireland. He has significant skills and experience that we will leverage extensively as we push forward with our growth plans."
Mr Corfield said it was an exciting time to be joining the fast-growing HBOS Australia business.
"I am looking forward to sharing the insights and experience gained from growing our Irish business here in Australia, and to helping to drive an organisation that's committed to driving change in the Australian financial services market."
Mr Willis said he was delighted with Mr Whitehead's secondment to the UK and thanked him for the contribution he has made to HBOS Australia.
"This secondment will provide Chris with valuable experience in the highly-competitive UK market, whilst sharing his experience with our UK colleagues."
"Chris has been a major driver of our national growth. Under his leadership, BankWest's retail business has expanded from Western Australia onto the east coast market where we continue to grow at a strong pace."