Sir Ralph Norris quits Commonwealth Bank of Australia
Bank's Kiwi chief executive to retire in November
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Hawke’s Bay
New Zealander Sir Ralph Norris will retire as chief executive of Commonwealth Bank of Australia, parent of ASB, in November.
His replacement comes from inside the bank – group executive, business and private banking Ian Narev.
In a statement to the Australian Stock Exchange, the bank’s chairman David Turner said it was recognised by Mr Norris and the board that it was the right time to appoint the next chief executive.
“On behalf of the board I want to thank Ralph for being an outstanding and fearless chief executive who has made a real contribution not just to banking but to the Australian and New Zealand communities,” said Mr Turner.
The former Air New Zealand boss almost doubled his total pay packet to A$16.2 million last year, making him Australia's highest-paid executive and sparking outcry across the Tasman as the public bank-bashing mood escalated.
During his six years in the role Sir Ralph helped steer Australia's largest bank through the tumultuous global financial crisis and its purchase of BankWest for just over $2 billion.
His replacement Mr Narev, 44, was previously a partner at McKinsey & Co and headed the consulting firm’s New Zealand office before joining the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.
He will be paid a fixed salary of $2.5 million, with potential for that to triple under incentive targets.
One Kiwi leaves, another arrives
Sir Ralph's' departure came as another New Zealand expat, Andy Lark, joined the bank's executive team.
Mr Lark started at CBA on July 1 as chief marketing officer. He arrived from Dell in the US where he was vice president of global sales for the company's enterprise division.
Georgina Bond
Fri, 22 Jul 2011
Fri, 22 Jul 2011
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Sir Ralph Norris quits Commonwealth Bank of Australia
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