Australia will soon see another woman chairing one of our largest organisations, with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia today announcing Catherine Livingstone as its new chairman from early 2017.
Livingstone has been a non-executive director with CBA since March 2016, and will take over from current chair David Turner who retires from the board at the end of 2016. She is the former chair of Telstra and CEO of Cochlear. Currently, she is also President of the Business Council of Australia, a role she will leave in November 2016.
On Livingstone’s appointment, Turner said: “Catherine’s strong business experience complemented by her interest in technology and innovation will mean she will be an excellent and well-qualified Chairman.”
Livingstone said the appointment is an honour, and praised Turner for his compassion and humility in leading the bank during a time of change. “His relentless focus on long-term investment in the Bank has also been coupled with a passion for driving diversity and positive community impact. I look forward to working with the Board and the very strong management team to continue this focus.”
Livingstone is a Chartered Accountant who has served on numerous boards across a wide range of industries. She has served on the Boards of Macquarie Group Limited, Goodman Fielder Limited and Rural Press Limited and has contributed to the work of the Innovation and Productivity Council for the New South Wales Government. In 2008, she was awarded Officer of the Order of Australia.
She will officially start in the role on 1 January 2017.