Brad Cooper, BT Financial Group’s Chief Executive, today announced the appointment of Jane Watts to General Manager of Westpac Private Bank.
Ms Watts joins Westpac Private Bank from her most recent position as Executive Director – Head of Wealth Management at Macquarie Private Wealth.
“At BT Financial Group we are very focused on earning all our customers’ business and this is particularly key in the high net worth segment where we are currently meeting our customers’ needs with regard to banking but have a real opportunity around wealth management,” Mr Cooper said.
“Jane will bring fresh insights into our Private Banking business, drawing on her very impressive career to date in wealth management spanning Macquarie Wealth Management, where she has worked for the past eight years, and previous to this held executive positions at Lend Lease/MLC and Westpac.
“During her time at Macquarie, Jane was responsible for a portfolio of businesses within Macquarie Private Wealth that included Strategic Financial Planning, the Direct Sales team, Mortgages and Insurance as well as Lachlan Wealth Management and Financial Index Australia. Consequently, Jane’s background makes her ideally suited to take Westpac Private Bank to the next level.
“I am certain Jane will ensure Westpac Private Bank continues to meet and exceed the expectations of high net worth individuals with their often more complex financial needs. The private banking industry in Australia is still in a rapid state of evolution and our momentum is centred on delivering a broader suite of services that is more aligned to the needs of our high net worth clients,” he said.
Ms Watts succeeds Jan Swinhoe who will be leaving BT Financial Group after 16 years with Westpac to pursue a range of interests that include business and finance as well as sport and family.
Mr Cooper credited Mrs Swinhoe’s leadership of Westpac Private Bank with the string of achievements and public accolades it has been awarded and the transition of the business from a series of state-based operations to a truly national business with a strong culture.
“Before leading Westpac Private Bank as it transitioned from the Westpac to BT in late 2006, Jan spent 12 years in the Westpac Institutional Bank where her last role was General Manager, Large Corporates,” he said.
“It was this focus on client and employee engagement that made her ideal to lead Westpac Private Bank, taking it forward to being the most awarded institution at the inaugural Private Banking Awards in 2009 and Jan taking home Outstanding Thought Leader in 2010.”
Jane Watts’ appointment is effective 1 December 2010.
