Ben Kelleher has been named Managing Director of Retail & Business Banking at ANZ Bank New Zealand Limited (ANZ NZ). He had been serving as the acting Managing Director for the past six months. Before this role, he was General Manager for Auckland and Northland in Retail and Business Banking.
Kelleher has spent seven years with ANZ, during which he led both the Private Bank team and Strategy team. His career includes various roles in strategy, analysis, and project management within New Zealand and internationally.
"Retail and Business Banking is at the heart of ANZ’s business in New Zealand, and I’m delighted to appoint Ben to this key role," stated Antonia Watson, CEO of ANZ NZ. "Ben brings experience, energy and ideas to Retail and Business Banking at an exciting time. Technology is transforming the industry, enabling us to make banking easier, more convenient and putting the customer in the driver’s seat of their financial future."
Kelleher holds a Masters in Management, Finance and Economics with Distinction from the University of Waikato along with a First Class Honours bachelor's degree. His appointment is effective immediately; he will be based in Auckland as part of ANZ NZ's Leadership Team reporting directly to CEO Antonia Watson.
He succeeds Watson who became CEO in December 2019 after being acting CEO for six months. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand has given its non-objection to his appointment.