Mr Apte’s appointment is effective from 10 June 2014 while Sir Higgins will join the board on 1 September 2014.
Mr Apte was Co-Chairman of Citi Asia Pacific Banking from 1 January 2012 until 31 January 2014, when he retired from Citi.
He remains a director of Citibank Japan and a member of the Supervisory Board of Citibank Handlowy, Poland.
Up until 2011 Mr Apte was chief executive of Citi Asia Pacific, which included Australia, New Zealand, India and the ASEAN countries.
Sir Higgins was chief executive of the Olympic Delivery Authority, where he oversaw the creation of the London 2012 Olympic Games venues, the Olympic Village and transport projects.
Prior to this he was chief executive of English Partnerships, the UK government’s national housing and regeneration agency, for three years.
CBA chairman David Turner said he was delighted with the appointments of Mr Apte and Sir Higgins, who are “highly respected business figures both in the Asia-Pacific region and globally”.
Mr Turner said Mr Apte will bring international banking knowledge and experience that will greatly benefit the Commonwealth Bank, while Sir Higgins brings a vast array of high-level business, infrastructure and major project experience.
“Both men will be invaluable additions to the Commonwealth Bank board and I very much look forward to working with them,” said Mr Turner.
