What executive changes did ANZ Bank New Zealand announce?

ANZ Bank New Zealand announced that its current CEO and ANZ Group (ASX:ANZ) Executive, Antonia Watson, will retire at the end of the 2026 financial year on Sept. 30. She will be succeeded by Ben Kelleher, who currently serves as the bank's Chief Risk Officer.

Who is Ben Kelleher, the incoming CEO of ANZ New Zealand?

Ben Kelleher is the current Chief Risk Officer for ANZ New Zealand, a position he has held for more than two years. Prior to this, he spent five years as the Managing Director of Personal Banking and has held leadership roles across ANZ's private banking and strategy divisions.

Why does the CEO transition at ANZ New Zealand matter for ANZ Group (ASX:ANZ) shareholders?

As a major subsidiary of ANZ Group, the New Zealand operations represent a significant portion of the bank's overall loan book and earnings. A smooth leadership transition ensures strategic continuity and limits operational disruption, which helps maintain institutional stability for the ASX-listed parent company.

What regulatory hurdles remain for the new ANZ New Zealand CEO appointment?

Ben Kelleher’s formal appointment as CEO is not yet finalized and remains subject to standard regulatory engagement. Specifically, the transition requires a formal non-objection from the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) before he can officially step into the role.

How might this leadership change affect the ANZ Group (ASX:ANZ) share price in the short term?

Executive retirements with long lead times rarely trigger volatile share price movements, as they give the market ample time to price in the change. Because Antonia Watson is staying until late September 2026 and an internal successor has been named, the short-term impact on ASX:ANZ shares is expected to be neutral.

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ANZ New Zealand CEO Antonia Watson to retire

Written by Jon CuthbertPublished Jun 11, 2026, 10:29 PM

ANZ Bank New Zealand has announced that its CEO and ANZ Group (ASX:ANZ) executive, Antonia Watson, will retire at the conclusion of the 2026 financial year.

Watson, who joined the major lender in 2009 and stepped into the top executive roles in 2019, will wrap up her distinguished tenure on Sept. 30.

She is set to be succeeded by Ben Kelleher, the current chief risk officer for ANZ New Zealand.

Kelleher brings a wealth of institutional knowledge to the position, having served as chief risk officer for over two years, following a five-year stint as the managing director of personal banking.

His extensive leadership background within ANZ also spans the bank’s private banking and strategy teams.

Prior to his career at ANZ, Kelleher honed his expertise across various strategy, analyst, and project management roles in both New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

While the internal transition marks a seamless leadership handover for the banking group, Kelleher’s formal appointment remains subject to regulatory engagement and a non-objection from the Reserve Bank of New Zealand.

ANZ New Zealand CEO Antonia Watson to retire

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