CBA Group Exec Human Resources to retire

Melanie Laing
MELANIE LAING
Commonwealth Bank of Australia - Group Executive Human Resources
DEPARTURE
COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA
Date: August 2018
Position: Group Executive Human Resources

The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) has announced that group executive human resources, Melanie Laing, will retire from CBA by the end of the 2018 calendar year.

Laing joined CBA's group executive team in 2012. Prior to this, she was the EGM, people & culture at Origin Energy and previously held executive HR leadership roles with Unisys Asia Pacific, Vodafone Asia Pacific and the General Re Corporation.

In a joint statement from CBA's CEO Ian Narev, and incoming CEO Matt Comyn, it was also announced that Kelly Bayer Rosmarin, group exec institutional banking and markets, and David Whiteing, group exec enterprise services and chief information officer, will leave the bank in the coming months.

Narev said that "leadership transitions are inevitably a time of change in senior teams, as executives reassess their own plans", with Comyn adding that he is "focussed on building an executive leadership team that will work to exceed the expectations of [CBA's] customers."

Commenting on Laing's departure, Narev said: "Melanie has an acute understanding of the critical link between the quality and motivation of our people, and the success of the Commonwealth Bank. Under her leadership, the effectiveness and efficiency of our human resources function have improved very significantly. She has driven a more ambitious agenda for capability development, particularly in the areas of talent acquisition, talent management, leadership development, and diversity and inclusion. She has also extended CBA's technology and innovation focus into HR tools and processes."

Laing added: "It has been a privilege to have been a part of the CBA and having had the opportunity to play a part in realising our vision of financial wellbeing for the people, businesses and communities we serve. I have thoroughly enjoyed being a partner with so many talented and committed people across the organisation."