MyState Brings Back Former Chair Richtor to Steady Post-Merger Integration
MyState (ASX: MYS) announces board leadership transition as Vaughn Richtor returns as Chair
MyState Limited (ASX: MYS) has announced that Sandra Birkensleigh will retire as Chair and Non-Executive Director effective 30 June 2026, concluding 11 years of service to the Group. The Board has reappointed Vaughn Richtor as Chair, effective 1 July 2026, with no change to the company’s strategic direction or business plans as a result of the transition.
Key details of the leadership change include:
- Sandra Birkensleigh retirement effective: 30 June 2026
- Vaughn Richtor reappointed as Chair effective: 1 July 2026
- Birkensleigh tenure: 11 years of service across Auswide Bank and the merged MyState group
- Richtor’s prior Chair tenure: April 2022 to February 2025
- Richtor joined the MyState Board: September 2019
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Continuity at the helm — what investors need to know about Vaughn Richtor
A familiar hand returning to the chair
Vaughn Richtor is not a new face to the boardroom. He has been a member of the MyState Board since September 2019 and previously served as Chair from April 2022 to February 2025, a period that encompassed the Group’s merger with Auswide Bank, completed in February 2025.
His direct involvement in that merger process is significant. It means Richtor brings deep institutional knowledge of the integration program already underway, as well as a clear understanding of the Group’s strategic priorities. For investors, his return represents a continuity play rather than a disruption, providing stable governance leadership during a post-merger integration phase.
Acknowledging a decade of leadership
Birkensleigh’s 11-year tenure spanned the Auswide Bank era and the formation of the merged MyState group, covering what the Board described as a transformational period for the organisation.
Sandra Birkensleigh, outgoing Chair
“I retire confident that MyState is well positioned for its next phase as a larger, more diversified financial services group with clear priorities and positive momentum. I am confident the business is in very good hands and wish the Board, management, employees and shareholders continued success.”
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What this means for MyState’s strategy and shareholders
The Board has explicitly confirmed there is no change to the company’s strategic direction or business plans as a result of this transition. MyState continues to operate as a diversified financial services group comprising MyState Bank (including Auswide and Selfco) and TPT Wealth, with the integration program progressing and the foundations for future growth described as well established.
Vaughn Richtor, incoming Chair
“I look forward to continuing to work with the Board and management to build on the strong foundations in place and delivering on our strategy to create long-term value for shareholders.”
For shareholders, board Chair continuity carries practical significance beyond the symbolic. A returning Chair with direct knowledge of the business reduces the risk of strategic drift, maintains consistency in how the Board engages with management, and minimises uncertainty at a time when post-merger integration demands steady oversight. In the context of MyState’s current phase, Richtor’s reappointment signals that the Group intends to stay the course on its existing priorities rather than reset them.
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