Google’s Australian MD joins ANZ as head of digital banking

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news Google’s regional Managing Director Maile Carnegie has joined ANZ bank as its new Group Executive of Digital Banking.

Making the announcement yesterday, ANZ said the Carnegie will be reporting to ANZ CEO Shayne Elliott and will lead the strategic development and delivery of the digital experience for the bank’s eight million customers, as well as for its staff.

The new exec will oversee digital projects, innovation and strategic relationships with the FinTech sector, and will take on shared responsibility for the financial results of the bank’s Australian and New Zealand Divisions, according to a statement from ANZ.

Carnegie will further be a member of the Group Executive Committee and have group responsibility for marketing, including ANZ’s brand, advertising and sponsorship.

Managing Director Australia and New Zealand since 2013, Carnegie was previously MD at Procter & Gamble in Australia and New Zealand, following over 20 years at the consumer goods giant – including as General Manager for Asia Strategy, Marketing and Design in Singapore, and in other senior marketing and commercial roles in the US.

Commenting on the appointment, Elliott said: “We have a great digital foundation with applications such as GoMoney and FastPay and the recent redevelopment of anz.com. Maile’s appointment recognises that digital is central to driving revenue growth and to successfully competing in a changing and disrupted environment where technology and brand are key sources of differentiation.”

“Part of Maile’s role will also be to shift our thinking and champion a Group-wide innovation culture at ANZ based on developing and attracting service-focused, technology-literate, innovative and experimental people and teams,” he explained. “This includes being the sponsor of a new Digital Business Transformation Leadership Program created jointly by ANZ and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.”

Carnegie’s experience at Google, her track record in marketing and business in Australia and in Asia, and her leadership skills, make her “uniquely qualified” to lead ANZ’s digital transformation, the CEO added.

“I think if you aren’t a tech company or you’re not on the way to becoming one you’re in big trouble,” Carnegie said.

Carnegie enters the role with the aim of bringing the bank closer to its growing digital customer base, indicating that a cultural transformation at the bank will be a significant part of the change.

“It’s the hardest thing to get right but it’s also got the highest leverage,” Carnegie said. “The highest return on investment is getting that culture right.”

Maile will be based at ANZ in Sydney and will take up her new role with the bank in July.

Image credit: Google