Former top ANZ executive joins Royal Bank of Scotland

Former ANZ Banking Group chief of Australian operations Brian Hartzer will join the Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS) as head of its UK retail, wealth management and Ulster Bank divisions.

US-born Hartzer, 42, who resigned from ANZ on Monday, will take over from Gordon Pell as executive committee member responsible for the divisions from July 31 subject to regulatory clearance, RBS said in a statement issued overnight.

RBS group chief executive Stephen Hester said: "We welcome Brian Hartzer to RBS. He is very highly regarded as a retail banker and he will fit into our team very well. We are excited to have him."

ANZ has appointed deputy chief executive Graham Hodges (formerly ANZ National CEO), effective immediately, to step in to Hartzer's role in an acting capacity while the bank seeks a full-time replacement.

Hartzer was widely tipped as the top internal candidate to succeed former ANZ chief executive John McFarlane in 2007. In the event the job went to Mike Smith. Last September's organisational changes saw Hartzer elevated to the newly created role of chief executive of Australian operations.

He also became global segment leader for the bank's retail and wealth management operations and commercial banking as ANZ sought to claw back its market share of customers and boost cross-selling activities.

The Australian division has 819 branches and 14,408 full-time employees.

Hartzer delivered a 12 per cent rise in half-year 2009 profit before provisions to A$1.735 billion to March 31.

After provisions, net underlying profit for the division fell 9 per cent.

Hartzer was previously managing director of the bank's personal banking division after leading its consumer finance division.

Before joining ANZ he was vice-president and head of the San Francisco office of First Manhattan Consulting Group, a consulting firm to major banks, credit card companies and brokerage firms.

- AAP