“In the business bank,this is the biggest investment in bankers we’ve made in a decade. So that is an acceleration of our growth,"he said in an interview.
The investment is a sign of NAB ramping up its strategy of focusing more sharply on its core business bank,which in financial markets is regarded as NAB's"jewel in the crown."
Mr Healy runs a part of NAB that accounts for about 45 per cent of profit,and he was seen as a potential candidate to replace Andrew Thorburn as CEO — a job that ultimately went to Royal Bank of Scotland chief executive Ross McEwan,whostarts in the role in December.
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Asked if he expected to continue leading the business bank,Mr Healy said he was “very committed” to NAB,and while he served at the pleasure of the CEO and the board,he hoped to continue in the job he has held since early 2018.
“I hope to and look forward to working with him[Mr McEwan] for many years to come to grow the business bank,” Mr Healy said.
NAB plans to use the new bankers to target industries where it sees strong long-term prospects,including health care,agribusiness,professional services,education and private banking.