ANZ has named Anne Weatherston chief information officer, ending a year-long search to replace Peter Dalton, who was shifted to the newly created position of group general manager for innovation last December.
Since Dalton's move the CIO position has been shared by group managing director of operations, technology and shared services, David Cartwright, and deputy CIO Kieran Griffiths.
The bank has now finally lured Weatherston from Bank of Ireland, where she spent four years as Group CIO, to take on the position. Previously she was information technology director at Abbey/Santander and has also worked for RBS and NAB.
Weatherston will join early next year, reporting to CEO Mike Smith and also taking a place on the management board.
Smith says: ""This appointment highlights the significant attention ANZ is placing on its systems and technology, including simplifying our approach to technology architecture and delivering global IT platforms and capabilities."
Cartwright will continue to lead ANZ's operations and shared services functions, including property and the bank's facilities in Bangalore, as chief operating officer.
This means the operations, technology and shared services division will be split in two.
ANZ is the only major Australian bank not currently engaged in a major technology upgrade. NAB, CBA and Westpac, are all spending hundreds of millions of dollars on ambitious core banking revamps.