Andrew Thorburn
Andrew Thorburn | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 13, 1965 Melbourne, Australia |
| Nationality | Australian, New Zealand |
| Occupation | Banking executive |
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Known for | CEO of Bank of New Zealand, CEO of National Australia Bank |
Andrew Thorburn (born 13 April 1965) is a prominent Australian executive recognized for his tenure as CEO of both the Bank of NZ (BNZ) and the National Australia Bank (NAB).
Early life
Originating from Melbourne, Thorburn possesses dual citizenship in Australia and New Zealand, the latter through his mother who was born in New Zealand.
Banking career
Thorburn’s banking journey commenced at ASB Bank in Auckland in 1986. He transitioned to the Commonwealth Bank of Australia in Sydney in 1997 before joining St George Bank in 2002. In January 2005, he took on the role of Head of Retail Banking at NAB. He advanced to become CEO of BNZ in 2008 and later assumed the CEO position at NAB in 2014.
During his leadership at NAB, Thorburn prioritized shedding non-essential assets and concentrated efforts on the Australian and New Zealand markets. In 2017, he launched a transformation agenda aimed at boosting technology investments, cutting costs, and expanding business banking operations.
Thorburn stepped down from NAB in February 2019 following the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking and Superannuation industry, reportedly under board pressure.
Essendon Football Club Controversy
In October 2022, Thorburn’s appointment as CEO of the Essendon Football Club was met with significant backlash from Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, media outlets, and fans due to his simultaneous directorship at City on a Hill, an Anglican church based in Melbourne. The controversy stemmed from sermons delivered by the church that condemned homosexuality and equated abortion with murder and the Holocaust.[1] Thorburn resigned just one day after his appointment was announced, almost a month before he was due to start.
Essendon cited a "clear conflict of interest with an organisation whose views do not align at all with our values as a safe, inclusive, diverse and welcoming club" as the rationale behind his departure.[2]
In response, Thorburn expressed that his Christian beliefs were "not tolerated or permitted in the public square" and stressed the importance of respecting diverse perspectives on complex ethical matters.[3]
He subsequently initiated legal proceedings concerning his sudden resignation, reaching a settlement in December 2022, and stepped down from other official positions by February 2023. Former West Coast Eagles CEO Craig Vozzo was named as his replacement.[4]
Essendon clarified that the resignation was not intended to disparage personal religious convictions but rather addressed incompatibility with the club’s commitment to inclusivity.[5] Media analysis largely interpreted the incident as a failure in leadership and recruitment processes rather than an issue surrounding religious freedom.[6]
Education
Thorburn earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree specializing in Economics from the University of Auckland and holds an MBA from the University of Durham in the United Kingdom. He is also recognized as a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Banking and Finance.
Personal
Since 1987, Thorburn has been married to Kathryn, who is likewise a native of New Zealand. Together, they have raised three grown children.