Brian Charles Hartzer (born 1966 or 1967) is an Australian business executive. Formerly CEO of Westpac (2014-2019). He became CEO of Quantium Health in December 2023. He has been chair of fintech startup BeforePay since 2021. Hartzer was chair of the Australian Museum Foundation from in 2021 and 2022, and since January 2023 and as of November 2024, he is president of the Australian Museum Trust.

Brian Charles Hartzer
Born1966 or 1967 (age 57–58)
Alma materPrinceton University
OccupationBusiness executive
EmployerQuantium Health

Early life and education

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Brian Charles Hartzer[1][2] was born in New York City, United States,[3] in 1966 or 1967.[4]

He attended went to Choate Rosemary Hall school in Connecticut, before studying European history at Princeton University.[4]

Hartzer is a Chartered Financial Analyst.[5]

Banking career

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Hartzer began his career as a consultant at First Manhattan Consulting Group (FMCG), working in New York, San Francisco, and Melbourne.[5] Hartzer concluded his time at FMCG as a vice president (partner).[4][6]

After around 10 years at FMCG,[3] Hartzer worked at ANZ Bank, in several roles including running the credit card business, the retail banking operations and managing director of the consumer finance division and CEO of the Australia division.[4][7][8][9]

Hartzer joined Royal Bank of Scotland as CEO UK Retail, Wealth and Ulster Bank[10] in 2009.[6]

In 2012 he started working for Westpac.[3] In November 2014, he was announced as the CEO to succeed Gail Kelly as CEO, Australian Financial Services, at Westpac in February 2015.[9][11] Hartzer stepped down as CEO in November 2019, after claims made by AUSTRAC alleged the bank was involved in money laundering, child exploitation, and other banking violations.[12][13][14] Peter King was appointed to replace him.[15]

In July 2021, Hartzer was named chairman of BeforePay,[16][17][18][16][17] a fintech startup based in Sydney.[5]

In December 2023 he was appointed CEO of Quantium Health, which is owned by Woolworths.[19]

As of November 2024 he is CEO of Quantium Health, chair of Beforepay as well as Reejig, an HR technology startup.[5]

Other activities

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Hartzer was chair of the Australian Museum Foundation from December 2020 until December 2022.[5][20] He was appointed a trustee of the Australian Museum Trust in January 2021, and since January 2023 and as of November 2024, he is president of the Trust.[5]

In the past, he has been chair of Save the Children Australia, director of the Financial Markets Foundation for Children, and chair of the Business Advisory Committee of the Australian National University.[5]

Publications

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  • The Leadership Star: A Practical Guide to Building Engagement ISBN 978-0730390831 [21]

References

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  1. ^ "Notice of Lead Plaintiff Deadline for Shareholders in the Westpac Banking Corporation Securities Class Action Lawsuit". Nasdaq. 11 November 2015. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  2. ^ "20-171 - Byrne v. Westpac Banking Corporation et al". GovInfo. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  3. ^ a b c Patten, Sally (31 March 2021). "Brian Hartzer on how to survive losing your job". Australian Financial Review. Archived from the original on 31 March 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d Pash, Chris (13 November 2014). "How Brian Hartzer Lined Himself Up For The Top Job At Westpac". Business Insider Australia. Archived from the original on 15 November 2014. Retrieved 7 November 2016. Hartzer, a 47-year-old American-born Australian with 25 years experience. His accent is tempered by 15 years in Australia.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g "Australian Museum Trust". The Australian Museum. Archived from the original on 12 November 2024. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Ex-ANZ executive Hartzer to join RBS". The Sydney Morning Herald. 7 May 2009. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  7. ^ "An ignominious end for Hartzer". Australian Financial Review. 25 November 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  8. ^ "Brian Hartzer quits ANZ sparking management concerns". News.com.au. 4 May 2009. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  9. ^ a b "Westpac names Brian Hartzer new CEO". Australian Financial Review. 13 November 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  10. ^ Wilkinson, Tara Loader (24 November 2011). "RBS Wealth Chief Jumps Ship To Westpac Amid Structural Overhaul". FamilyWealthReport. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  11. ^ Somasundaram, Narayanan (12 November 2014). "Hartzer to Become Westpac CEO in February as Kelly Exits". Bloomberg News. Archived from the original on 10 July 2015.
  12. ^ Murdoch, Scott; Kaye, Byron (12 December 2019). "Shareholders lash Australia's Westpac over money laundering bombshell". Reuters. Archived from the original on 13 December 2019. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  13. ^ "Top bank CEO in Australia steps down over money laundering scandal". CNN News. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  14. ^ "Westpac bank chief quits amid money laundering scandal". BBC News. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  15. ^ Witkowski, Wallace. "Westpac Banking names Peter King CEO for next two years". MarketWatch. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  16. ^ a b "Former Westpac CEO Brian Hartzer named chairman of fintech Beforepay". Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  17. ^ a b "Brian Hartzer returns to chair buy now, pay later start-up before IPO". Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  18. ^ "Former Westpac CEO Hartzer takes the chair at BeforePay". Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  19. ^ Baird, Lucas (12 December 2023). "Hartzer joins Woolworths' Quantium Health as CEO". Australian Financial Review. Archived from the original on 14 December 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  20. ^ "Brian Hartzer appointed chairman of Australian Museum Foundation". The Australian Museum. 3 December 2020. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  21. ^ "Brian Hartzer to Release Leadership Book". Retrieved 23 March 2021.
Business positions
Preceded by Chief Executive Officer of Westpac
2015 – 2019
Succeeded by
Peter King