Ex-ANZ deputy CEO joins La Trobe Financial

Dr Edgar’s appointment is an expansion of the board and the addition of a third independent non-executive director, alongside former NAB and Westpac senior executive and corporate banker John Marriott and former Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) group superannuation chief investment officer Gerard Parlevliet.

According to La Trobe Financial president and CEO Greg O’Neill, Dr Edgar’s experience in strategic, operational and risk arenas will be valuable to the group as it seeks to “capture the growth opportunities that will be presented to us over the coming years”.

“Our management team, business partners, staff and customers will benefit greatly from the skills and experience Dr Edgar brings to the board.”

According to Mr O’Neill, over the last five years, La Trobe Financial has seen an increase in demand both for its loans and investment offerings. This has particularly accelerated as the banks have simplified their offerings and reassessed their credit appetites in the lead-up to and aftermath of the banking royal commission, he said.

“Barring any exogenous shocks, we anticipate that this heightened demand will persist into the medium term,” Mr O’Neill told The Adviser.

“We are therefore continuing to buttress and build on our board to ensure that we maintain the right mix of experience and expertise to properly address this opportunity.”  

Commenting on his own appointment, Dr Edgar said: “La Trobe Financial is a great Australian success story.”

“I am delighted to join the company’s board of directors and look forward to playing a part in its future success.”

Dr Edgar has had an extensive career in Australian banking and finance covering 30 years. He retired as the deputy chief executive of ANZ in May 2009. During his time at ANZ, Dr Edgar was also chief economist, managing director strategic planning (including acquisitions and divestments), chief executive of Grindlays for South Asia, managing director of Esanda (finance company subsidiary), managing director corporate banking and managing director institutional banking.

He was also a member of ANZ’s senior management board and presided over ANZ’s relationship with PT Panin Bankin Indonesia, among other key roles in Asia.

Additionally, he has also sat on the board of public companies, including Transurban and Djerriwarrh Securities.

Dr Edgar has a PhD in economics from the Ohio State University, and he holds a Bachelor of Economics (Hons.) from the University of Adelaide.

He attended his first board meeting at La Trobe Financial on 14 February.

Other members currently on the board are:

• Chairman John Marriott (former senior executive and veteran corporate banker NAB and Westpac - Melbourne);
• Gerard Parlevliet (former chief investment officer Commonwealth Bank of Australia staff superannuation fund - Sydney);
• Kishore Moorjani (senior managing director Blackstone and leader of Blackstone’s tactical opportunities division in Asia - Singapore);
• Christopher Tynan (senior managing director Blackstone Real Estate Debit Strategies - Sydney);
• Gautam Banerjee (senior managing director Blackstone, and previous ASIAN chairman of PricewaterhouseCoopers - Singapore); and
• Greg O’Neill (president and CEO - Melbourne).

[Related: La Trobe Financial donates $1m to bushfire efforts]