ANZ Group Holdings Ltd Appoints Rachel Slade as Non Executive Director
ANZ appoints veteran banker Rachel Slade to Group Board
ANZ Group Holdings Limited Chairman Paul O’Sullivan has announced that veteran banker Rachel Slade will join the group’s boards as a Non-Executive Director, effective Monday 13 July 2026.
Announced on 1 July 2026, the appointment sees Slade join the Boards of ANZ Group Holdings Limited, Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited, and ANZ BH PTY LTD.
The addition brings a seasoned, customer-focused banker to board level as ANZ works to execute its 2030 strategy and pursue continued growth.
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A career spanning two decades across major banks
Slade is described as a career banker with more than two decades of experience across retail, business and transaction banking, having held leadership roles at both National Australia Bank (NAB) and Westpac.
She left NAB in July 2025 after serving as Group Executive, Business and Private Banking, a role she was appointed to in 2024 with responsibility for the bank’s SME, specialised banking, private banking and advisory businesses.
Her senior banking roles have included:
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NAB (joined 2017): Group Executive Business and Private Banking (2024); Group Executive Personal Banking; Chief Customer Experience Officer; and Executive General Manager Deposits and Transaction Services
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Westpac: 17 years in senior roles across global transactional services, retail and business banking
This operational and customer-facing pedigree signals continuity of a customer-led approach at board level.
Why board appointments matter to investors
A Non-Executive Director provides independent oversight, governance, and strategic guidance without responsibility for the day-to-day running of the business. Their role is to hold management accountable and help set the company’s longer-term direction.
Relevant sector experience on a bank board matters because it aligns director skills with the company’s strategic priorities. Directors who understand complex banking environments can provide sharper scrutiny and more informed guidance.
In Slade’s case, her customer and transformation background maps directly to ANZ’s stated growth and strategy execution focus, adding depth in areas the bank has identified as central to its plans.
ANZ Group’s legal headwinds in New Zealand add complexity to the governance backdrop, with an unresolved CCCFA class action appeal before the Court of Appeal representing a contingent financial risk that incoming board members will be expected to scrutinise.
Chairman’s view and strategic fit
Commenting on the appointment, Chairman Paul O’Sullivan pointed to Slade’s experience and track record as a strong fit for the board.
Paul O’Sullivan, ANZ Group Chairman
“Rachel’s deep and contemporary experience across retail, business and transaction banking, combined with her track record of customer-led strategy and large-scale transformation, will bring valuable operational and customer insight to the Boards. Her understanding of complex banking environments and focus on high quality customer outcomes position her well to support the execution of ANZ’s 2030 strategy and our continued growth.”
The Chairman’s comments position Slade’s expertise as directly relevant to the multi-year 2030 strategy, signalling that the board is being resourced with skills aligned to that agenda.
The ANZ New Zealand CEO appointment of Ben Kelleher, promoted from Chief Risk Officer following Antonia Watson’s retirement, reflects a broader pattern of leadership renewal across the ANZ group in 2026.
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Appointment at a glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Appointee | Rachel Slade |
| Role | Non-Executive Director |
| Effective date | 13 July 2026 |
| Boards | ANZ Group Holdings Limited, Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited, ANZ BH PTY LTD |
| Announced by | Chairman Paul O’Sullivan |
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