6-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

FORM 6-K

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16

UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

May 19, 2020

Commission File Number 1-10167

WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION

(Translation of registrant’s name into English)

275 KENT STREET, SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES 2000, AUSTRALIA

(Address of principal executive office)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

Form 20-F x                                   Form 40-F ¨

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): ¨

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): ¨

Incorporation by Reference

The information contained in this Report on Form 6-K, excluding the information set forth in Exhibit No. 1, shall be incorporated by reference in the prospectuses relating to the Registrant’s securities contained in the Registrant’s Registration Statements on Form F-3 (File Nos. 333-228295, 333-228294 and 333-220373), as such prospectuses may be amended or supplemented from time to time.

Westpac today announced that David Lindberg, Chief Executive, Consumer and Craig Bright, Chief Information Officer, are leaving Westpac to take up new roles overseas. An international search has commenced for their replacements.

Westpac also announced the appointment of Les Vance to a new role as Group Executive, Financial Crime, Compliance and Conduct. Mr Vance will be responsible for overseeing the Group’s financial crime, compliance and conduct management.

Mr Vance’s previous roles at Westpac include, Chief Risk Officer for BT Financial Group, Group General Manager for Core Transformation, Chief Operating Officer for Technology, General Manager of Investments & Business Partnering, and Corporate Counsel for Secretariat & Corporate. Before joining Westpac in 2008, Mr Vance was Group Executive for External Funds at Investa Property Group and Chief Executive for Gaming at TAB Limited. He also held strategic project roles with Racing NSW. Mr Vance commenced his career at the legal firm, Herbert Smith Freehills where he became a partner. Les has a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Laws with Honours, both from The University of Queensland.

Index to Exhibits

Exhibit No.	Description
1	ASX Release --- Westpac Executive Changes

Disclosure regarding forward-looking statements

The information contained in this Report on Form 6-K contains statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements are statements about matters that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements appear in a number of places in this Report and include statements regarding our intent, belief or current expectations with respect to our business and operations, market conditions, results of operations and financial condition.

We use words such as ‘will’, ‘may’, ‘expect’, ‘indicative’, ‘intend’, ‘seek’, ‘would’, ‘should’, ‘could’, ‘continue’, ‘plan’, ‘aim’, ‘probability’, ‘risk’, ‘forecast’, ‘likely’, ‘estimate’, ‘anticipate’, ‘believe’ or other similar words to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are subject to change, certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions which are, in many instances, beyond our control and have been made based upon management’s expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effect upon us. There can be no assurance that future developments will be in accordance with our expectations or that the effect of future developments on us will be those anticipated. Should one or more of the risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the expectations described in this Report. Factors that may impact on the forward-looking statements made include, but are not limited to, those described in the section entitled ‘Risk factors’ in Westpac’s 2020 Interim Financial Results on Form 6-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as the ongoing impact of COVID-19. When relying on forward-looking statements to make decisions with respect to us, investors and others should carefully consider such factors and other uncertainties and events. We are under no obligation, and do not intend, to update any forward-looking statements contained in this Report, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this Report.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

	WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION
	(Registrant)
Date: May 19, 2020	By:	/s/ Yvette Adiguzel
		Yvette Adiguzel
		Tier One Attorney

EX-1

Exhibit 1

 

ASX Release   Level 18, 275 Kent Street Sydney, NSW, 2000  

19 MAY 2020

WESTPAC EXECUTIVE CHANGES

Westpac today announced that David Lindberg, Chief Executive, Consumer and Craig Bright, Chief Information Officer, are leaving Westpac to take up new roles overseas. An international search has commenced for their replacements.

Westpac also announced the appointment of Les Vance to a new role as Group Executive, Financial Crime, Compliance and Conduct. Mr Vance will be responsible for overseeing the Group’s financial crime, compliance and conduct management.

Mr Vance’s appointment reflects the Group’s commitment to increase its focus on these areas and allow the Chief Risk Officer, David Stephen, to focus on the financial risk management of the organisation, particularly the credit portfolio, given the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr King thanked Mr Lindberg and Mr Bright for their contribution to Westpac.

Mr Lindberg made significant progress on improving customer satisfaction and the digital experience, while Mr Bright improved the capability of the Bank’s technology infrastructure, implemented the Customer Service Hub and achieved significant efficiencies in vendor services.

Commenting on Mr Vance, Mr King said: “Les is a thoughtful and energetic executive who will bring a forensic approach to improving and strengthening Westpac’s financial crime and compliance management.

“Westpac has made significant progress in improving its financial crime capability and I am confident Les will continue to build on this platform of work. His deep understanding of the bank and risk management will help us further strengthen our management of non-financial risk. Les will bring his considerable experience, knowledge and integrity to his new role.”

Mr Vance is currently the Chief Operating Officer, Consumer Division and has over 25 years’ executive experience across line management, transformation and program delivery, operations, and risk and governance.

For further information:

David Lording	Andrew Bowden
Group Head of Media Relations	Head of Investor Relations
0419 683 411	0438 284 863

This document has been authorised for release by Tim Hartin, Company Secretary.

 

 

Les Vance Profile

Mr Vance’s previous roles at Westpac include, Chief Risk Officer for BT Financial Group, Group General Manager for Core Transformation, Chief Operating Officer for Technology, General Manager of Investments & Business Partnering, and Corporate Counsel for Secretariat & Corporate.

Before joining Westpac in 2008, Mr Vance was Group Executive for External Funds at Investa Property Group and Chief Executive for Gaming at TAB Limited. He also held strategic project roles with Racing NSW.

Mr Vance commenced his career at the legal firm, Herbert Smith Freehills where he became a partner.

Les has a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Laws with Honours, both from The University of Queensland.