Bendigo and Adelaide Bank appoints Marnie Baker as next MD 

Mike Hirst to retire 1 July 2018

Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited has appointed Marnie Baker as Managing Director. She will assume the role from Mike Hirst on 2 July 2018.

Ms Baker joined the Bank in 1989 and has a depth of experience in leadership roles across most areas of the Group - including treasury, capital markets, technology and payments systems, digital strategy, retail banking and funds management.

This has included leading the Bank’s entry into the New Payments Platform and digital banking. She has been a member of the Executive team for nearly two decades, most recently as the Bank’s Chief Customer Officer.
Chairman Robert Johanson said Ms Baker’s appointment would enable the Bank to build on its position as Australia’s most trusted bank.

“Marnie has been instrumental in driving the successful delivery of our customer-connected strategy which has delivered significant commercial and reputational value for the business,” Mr Johanson said.

Mr Johanson praised Mr Hirst’s “exceptional contribution” over more than 15 years with the Bank, including the past nine years as Managing Director.

“Mike was appointed in 2009, amidst the depths of the global financial crisis, and not long after the merger with Adelaide Bank,” he said.

“He has been an outstanding leader and leaves the Bank in great shape. Mike has helped build a business that is now the fifth biggest retail bank in Australia – one that is strongly-funded, well capitalised, and with a Net Promoter Score that leads the way among Australian banks.”

Mr Hirst said it had been an “honour to work with the Bank’s staff who are absolutely committed to helping our customers be successful.”

“I don’t think I have seen a group of people who understand the need to focus on meeting and often exceeding customer expectations as well as this team does, and that reflects in all measures of trust, customer advocacy and service. Equally, I’d like to acknowledge the great contribution of our community partners and the support I have had from the Board and Executive,” said Mr Hirst.

“I’m very pleased that Marnie has been chosen as the new Managing Director. Her understanding of customers and the Bank’s long history of its role in the community are real strengths,” he said.

Ms Baker said she was “extremely excited by the opportunity” to build on the Bank’s unique market position in the context of the current operating environment for Australia’s banking sector.

“Working for and on behalf of all of our stakeholders – including our customers, shareholders, our people, partners and the community - and feeding into their prosperity has defined who we are for the past 160 years. The current focus on trust and fairness for consumers plays to our strengths, and it presents us with a tremendous opportunity,” she said.

“It’s been a privilege working with Mike over his entire tenure at the Bank. He’s been a great colleague and highly respected leader,” said Ms Baker.

Ms Baker’s appointment follows a comprehensive search process, led by an external executive recruitment firm, which identified a number of strong external and internal candidates.

She will take leave from 3 April, before assuming her new role on 2 July.