TSB appoints new chief executive

The New Plymouth-based bank has appointed Donna Cooper as its new chief executive after the retirement of long-serving CEO Kevin Murphy..

Cooper was previously chief executive of The Warehouse Financial Services Group, and prior to that director and general manager of Baycorp Holdings (NZ), following more than a decade working internationally with American Express. Her tenure in each role was distinguished by her delivery of strategic priorities through collaborative leadership and building a customer-focussed culture.

TSB Board chairman John Kelly says Cooper brings to the role the right range of skills and experience needed as the bank implements its growth strategy and continues to evolve to meet customer expectations in the context of a changing banking landscape.

“Our priority in appointing TSB’s new CEO was demonstrable leadership capability to contribute to our vision, drive strategy execution through technology and customer-led innovation, and build relationships with all of the bank’s stakeholders.

“The appointment of Ms Cooper to the role ticks all of those boxes. It also enables us to benefit from a fresh perspective at a time when the spotlight is on banks to put customer interests first,” Kelly said in a statement.

“Ms Cooper’s proven, authentic leadership style is exactly what we need in further developing the relationships we have with our employees, communities and customers.”

Cooper says that TSB’s reputation for customer service excellence was a major attraction, along with the bank’s unique position as a wholly NZ-owned bank that has remained true to its community roots while growing nationwide to become the country’s seventh largest retail bank.

“TSB’s focus on customers is fundamental to its ongoing success, and this aligns closely with my values and experience. I look forward to working with a team that is genuinely passionate about the bank’s customer service leadership,” she says.