ANZ NZ names chief risk officer Ben Kelleher as next CEO

Antonia Watson will retire on 30 September 2026.

ANZ Bank New Zealand (ANZ NZ) has announced Ben Kelleher as its next chief executive officer (CEO) and group executive.

Current CEO and group executive Antonia Watson will retire by the end of FY2026 on 30 September. Watson has been with ANZ NZ since 2009 and has helmed the bank since 2019.

She joined ANZ in 2009 from Morgan Stanley. She had previously served as financial controller, chief financial officer, and managing director for retail and business banking.

Upcoming CEO Kelleher is currently ANZ NZ’s chief risk officer. Prior to that, he was managing director for personal banking for five years and has previously led the bank’s private banking and strategy teams.

Kelleher’s appointment is subject to a Reserve Bank of New Zealand non-objection and other regulatory engagement.