Good morning ladies and gentlemen, Paul O’Sullivan, Chairman of ANZ, addressed the 2024 Annual General Meeting of ANZ Group Holdings Limited. He acknowledged the Wurundjeri people as the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which the meeting took place and extended respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people present.
O’Sullivan noted that this was the first AGM in Melbourne since the height of the COVID pandemic. He expressed gratitude to shareholders, customers, and partners for their contributions to ANZ's business in Victoria. He also mentioned ANZ's presence in Vanuatu, which recently experienced a significant earthquake.
Reflecting on 2024, O’Sullivan described it as a mixed year for ANZ with strong trading performances overshadowed by issues related to non-financial risk management. "As your Board of Directors," he stated, "we have a duty to act in the best interests of the business by basing our judgements on facts when we assess the Bank’s performance."
The Chairman acknowledged shareholder feedback regarding remuneration reports. "Although a majority of shareholders... support the adoption of the remuneration report, a significant number do not," he said.
O'Sullivan highlighted strategic moves such as selling over 30 businesses since 2016 and reinvesting $14 billion into technology platforms like ANZ Plus and Transactive Global. He mentioned acquiring Suncorp Bank after regulatory approval and completing a sale in Malaysia releasing approximately $900 million in capital.
Despite financial achievements, non-financial risks were emphasized. The prudential regulator APRA required an additional operational risk capital overlay due to concerns about non-financial risk management within ANZ's Markets business. ASIC is investigating potential misconduct during a bond issuance for the Australian Government.
Regarding climate change resolutions at the meeting, O'Sullivan stated: "Our ambition is to be a leading bank in supporting an effective and orderly transition for our business customers." However, he did not support proposed amendments related to climate change strategies.
O'Sullivan announced CEO Shayne Elliott would step down next year after nine years at ANZ with Nuno Matos set to succeed him. The board is committed to continuing its current strategy without signaling any major shifts.
In conclusion, O’Sullivan thanked over 40,000 employees working across 29 markets internationally along with customers and shareholders for their trust and support.