ANZ Bank New Zealand announced CEO Antonia Watson will retire on September 30, 2026, at the end of the financial year.
Watson joined ANZ in 2009. She became CEO of the New Zealand division in 2019, navigating the bank through the COVID-19 pandemic and multiple regulatory reviews.
Ben Kelleher, current Chief Risk Officer for ANZ New Zealand, will succeed Watson.
Kelleher is a long-serving member of the bank's leadership team. He previously served as Managing Director of Personal Banking for five years before becoming CRO. The appointment signals a focus on continuity and risk management amid a complex regulatory environment.
The transition is subject to a non-objection from the Reserve Bank of New Zealand.