Westpac Banking Corporation has today announced the appointment of Debra Hazelton and David Cohen as independent non-executive directors, with effect from 3 March and 1 April respectively.

Debra Hazelton has more than 30 years’ experience in global financial services, with a particular focus on Australia and Japan. Her executive experience includes national CEO roles in Japan and Australia as well as roles in treasury, corporate/project finance and human resources/organisational culture.

An experienced chair and non-executive director, Hazelton currently serves as chair of Export Finance Australia, vice president of the Australia-Japan Business Co-operation Committee and non-executive director of the boards of Persol Holdings Co Ltd (listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange) and Australia Post. She was previously chair of AMP Bank.

David Cohen was deputy chief executive officer of Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) from November 2018 to December 2023. He has more than 20 years’ experience in financial services. Cohen held a number of executive roles at CBA: group general counsel, group executive human resources, group executive corporate affairs and chief risk officer. Prior to joining CBA, his roles had included general counsel at AMP and being a partner at law firm Allens Arthur Robinson.

Westpac’s chair, Steven Gregg, said: “We are pleased to welcome Debra and David to the board. Their extensive experience across banking and financial services complements the skills of existing directors and will be invaluable as Westpac executes its strategy.

“Debra brings a wealth of experience in transformation, capital markets and people and culture from her senior executive and director roles in Australia and Japan and will join our board remuneration committee. David’s breadth of large-scale executive leadership roles and experience in banking transformation, risk and regulation and governance will also be highly valued and he will join our board risk committee.”