Kiwi Group Holdings, the owner of Kiwibank, has appointed Jon Hartley as Kiwibank's new chair – providing the Reserve Bank agrees with the appointment.
Current chair Dr Susan Macken also announced that she will not be seeking reappointment next month. She will remain chair until November 28. Hartley will replace Macken, with his expected tenure starting on the same day.
Commenting on his appointment, Jon Hartley says, “Kiwibank is a vital and significant part of the New Zealand banking system. I look forward to working with the board, management and owners in the strategy implementation and to see the bank continue to realise its full potential.
Hartley brings 44 years' experience in business and banking across New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Africa.
He has also held senior roles across a range of commercial and not-for-profit organisations in several countries, including as chair of SkyCity, deputy chair of ASB Bank and Sovereign Assurance Company, director of Mighty River Power and Air New Zealand, a trustee of World Vision New Zealand, CEO of Brierley New Zealand and Solid Energy, and CFO of Lend Lease in Australia.
Hartley is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, an associate of the Australian and New Zealand Institute and Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
“Jon has considerable governance and commercial expertise, including as deputy chair of ASB Bank, where he was on the board for 12 years, and 17 years of international banking experience with VisionFund International – the microfinance subsidiary of World Vision International – where he has just retired as chair,” comments Kiwi Group Holdings Board chair Jackie Lloyd.
“The Board and management of Kiwibank will benefit greatly from Jon's experience, leadership and insights as it implements its strategy of ensuring more Kiwi families and businesses choose to partner with a New Zealand-owned bank.
Lloyd also thanks Dr Macken for her leadership and stewardship since 2017.
Macken adds, “My focus was to ensure more New Zealanders – and New Zealand businesses – chose to bank with Kiwibank, and to put in place a business strategy that would meet the changing needs of Kiwis.
“With board appointments due to be confirmed in November, I reflected on the changing nature of the governance requirements as the bank evolves. I decided Kiwibank would best benefit from a chair with the specific skills to lead them in this new chapter, and informed shareholders and the board last month I would not be seeking reappointment.
“I felt it was important to signal this now rather than in a year, so the board could look to appoint a chair to oversee the governance – and success – of the organisation into the 2020s.