Customer-owned lender hires transformation officer

Police & Nurses Ltd, operating as the P&N Group, has announced that it has hired transformation consultant Phil Thistlethwaite as its first chief transformation officer (CTO).

Moving from a consulting capacity to the newly created position on 1 September 2020, Mr Thistlethwaite will continue to lead the lender on its transformation and growth journey.

The co-founder of business consultancy Maitha Group had been leading the Integration Program for the P&N Group as it merged P&N Bank and Bananacoast Community Credit Union (bcu). The merger saw both brands keep their identities, with the P&N (Police & Nurses) brand in Western Australia and the bcu brand operating in NSW and south-eastern Queensland. 

The new CTO specialises in the technology start-up space, where he has helped organisations define their strategies and business plans for growth. In 2005, he co-founded The Birchman Group Asia Pacific, a professional service firm focused on delivering and supporting IT-enabled business transformation. He subsequently became global CEO, growing the business to over 900 staff in 14 offices around the world and helped deliver client growth and transformation in areas such as IT, leadership, banking, marketing, sales, finance, human resources and operations. 

He has also worked with organisations such as HBOSA (Bankwest), CUA, Polaroid, Allied Domecq, Jaguar Land Rover, KPMG, BHP, WA state government, IBM and Growth Equities Mutual. 

Speaking of the new appointment, P&N Group CEO Andrew Hadley commented: “With the pace of change, levels of fintech disruption and the continuing consolidation of the customer-owned banking sector, our members deserve an organisation that not only remains relevant, but one that can also play a leading role in offering more Australians a genuine banking alternative to the major banks,” he said. 

“After seeing what Phil has brought to the table in a consulting capacity, it’s quite a coup that he has agreed to join our organisation on a full-time basis. 

“I am looking forward to working with Phil and supporting his contribution to our organisation’s success and ongoing evolution on behalf of our 150,000 members,” the CEO concluded.

Mr Thistlethwaite stated: “Leading the Integration Program for the P&N Group has been both rewarding and enjoyable, but more importantly, has allowed me to engage with the culture and opportunities that exist within the organisation more broadly.

“I’ve absolutely bought into the customer-owned banking model – the vision, the people and the purpose – a lot more than I could have imagined, so I’m genuinely excited to be here and to contribute in any way that I can,” the new CTO said.

The group has said that it has “ambitious plans” to continue to grow its national presence and footprint both organically and through future partnerships.