Kiwibank’s homegrown new boss
Steve Jurkovich is Kiwibank’s new chief executive.
Jurkovich joins from ASB, where he was executive general manager for business banking.
Kiwibank chair Susan Macken said Jurkovich had beaten an international field of contenders to land the job.
Jurkovich said: ‘‘New Zealand is an increasingly diverse country with big ambitions, and I want to work for a bank that respects and reflects that.
‘‘Kiwibank has an incredible brand that resonates with all New Zealanders and it’s a real privilege to be asked to guard and increase the reach of that brand.’’
He also took the opportunity to compare the state of Kiwi banking, and that of Australian banking, which is the subject of a royal commission after a series of public consumer scandals.
‘‘If we look at the revelations from Australia’s royal commission into financial services, we see a disappointingly low public perception of financial services there,’’ Jurkovich said. ‘‘But on this side of the Tasman New Zealanders should be pleased we have a higher level of scrutiny on our banking practices, and arguably a healthier industry culture too.’’
At ASB, Jurkovich was executive general manager in corporate, commercial and rural banking.
Jurkovich is a Kiwi raised in Paeroa and then on Auckland’s North Shore. He graduated from Otago University with a bachelor of law, and has an MBA from the University of Sydney.
He will take up his new role on July 30.