Nuno Matos, who has led ANZ as CEO since May, has been appointed by the trade association to serve a two-year term as chair.
At the ABA’s annual general meeting in Melbourne on 3 December, ING CEO Melanie Evans was also reappointed as deputy chair.
Matos said his priorities for the ABA included building a competitive banking system that meets the needs of all Australians, safeguarding access to essential banking services and protecting banking customers from the threat of scams.
“The ABA plays an incredibly important role in supporting the ability of our industry to deliver for our customers, employees, shareholders and the community. I look forward to working with the ABA and members to continue this essential work,” Matos said.
Commenting on the appointment, ABA CEO Simon Birmingham said he looked forward to working closely with Matos over his term.
“The way people bank is changing rapidly, and strong industry leadership is essential to ensure we maximise the economic contribution of banks while continuing to deliver safe, reliable and accessible banking services for all Australians,” Birmingham said.
Matos succeeds outgoing chair Andrew Irvine, NAB’s CEO, who has held the position for the past two years. He thanked Irvine for his leadership and service to the industry during his tenure.
“Andrew has provided steady and effective leadership during an important period for our sector, guiding the industry through significant policy and commercial issues,” he said.
Birmingham also thanked Irvine for his leadership over his time as chair.
“Andrew has shown exceptional leadership over the past two years, guiding the industry through complex challenges while keeping the needs of customers firmly at the centre,
“His collaborative approach and strategic focus have strengthened the ABA’s work and delivered meaningful outcomes for the sector,” Birmingham said.
Irvine said it has been a privilege to serve in the role and congratulated Matos on his appointment.
“Over this time the banking sector has supported customers through shifting economic conditions, implemented the Scam-Safe Accord, extended Bank@Post services and supported changes to the payments system,
“Importantly we have worked together to ensure cash remains part of Australia’s payments landscape for years to come, in a sustainable and cost-effective way,” he said.
Last month, ANZ posted a statutory profit of $5.89 billion for the year to 30 September 2025 – a 10 per cent decline on the previous year – and a cash profit of $5.79 billion, with regulatory costs weighing on the result.
At the time, Matos said the results underscored ANZ’s strong franchise and competitive position across its core markets, while also pointing to a significant opportunity to lift performance in its Australia retail, business and private banking divisions.
