First female CEO of a major Australian bank oversaw a more than doubling of profit at the bank SYDNEY — Westpac Banking named Brian Hartzer CEO to replace Gail Kelly, who is retiring after seven years at the helm of Australia’s second-biggest lender.Mr Hartzer will take over on February 2 next year after joining the Sydney-based lender in June 2012 from Royal Bank of Scotland Group to run its Australian business, Westpac said on Thursday.Ms Kelly, who in February 2008 became the first female CEO of a major Australian bank, has overseen a more than doubling of profit at the bank. She did not reveal her future plans.Mr Hartzer will need to steer Westpac through regulatory challenges including additional capital requirements, while boosting loan growth. Profit at the Australian units has increased 25% in the past two years under the Princeton graduate’s stewardship."The CEO transition will be seamless and Mr Hartzer’s appointment is no surprise," said Don Williams, Sydney-based founder...
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