ANZ is moving to strengthen its presence in Queensland and Western Australia, appointing Russell Shields as Queensland chairman and John Atkins as West Australian chairman.
The roles are new to ANZ and follow the successful state leadership role of former New South Wales chairman Warwick Smith.
ANZ chief executive officer Mike Smith said the new appointee’s would be responsible for representing ANZ’s interests and strengthening the group’s profile in Queensland and Western Australia.
“They will work closely with the state heads of ANZ businesses and have accountability for the development of our activities in Australia’s two fastest growing states,” Smith said.
Shields has held senior finance roles in Australia and Asia and helped establish the Queensland office of Wardley Australia, the investment-banking arm of HSBC. He was most recently managing director, Asia Pacific, transport, construction and infrastructure, in Hong Kong with HSBC.
Atkins is currently head of office with Freehills in Perth, having previously served as Freehills’ managing partner in Melbourne and national practice partner with responsibility for the firm’s overseas operations.
