· Head of Retail Bank, Melanie Evans appointed CEO ING Bank Australia
· Uday Sareen promoted to head of Wholesale Banking for ING Europe, Middle East and Africa
Thursday 29 October 2020: Today ING Bank Australia Chair, Dr John Laker AO, has announced that Melanie Evans, the bank's Head of Retail Bank, will become CEO of ING Bank Australia. She will replace the current CEO, Uday Sareen, who has been promoted to Head of Wholesale Banking for ING Europe, Middle East and Africa. Both appointments are effective from 16 November 2020.
Dr Laker praised Ms Evans' impact on the bank since she joined in 2017 as head of the Retail Bank. Under Melanie's leadership, ING has grown to be Australia's 5th largest main financial institution with a 6% customer market share and has launched multiple new retail products and services including personal lending, credit cards and insurance.
"Melanie is a very experienced banker with a proven track record who will continue to drive ING's growth and diversification agenda."
"Her appointment is testament to all that Melanie has achieved for the retail bank and its customers."
Melanie has spent her career in financial services. Starting out with a St. George Bank cadetship in 1995, she later joined Westpac's equities business in 2000. After a move to BT Financial Group in 2003, she spent a decade in product, brand, marketing, superannuation, platforms and investments leadership roles. Returning to banking within the Westpac Group as a Chief of Staff, she then went on to lead business units across mortgages, transformation and business banking.
Dr Laker congratulated Mr Sareen on accelerating the growth of ING in Australia over the past four years:
"Uday will be leaving a highly successful, customer focused bank with an excellent workplace culture. ING is now one of Australia's most trusted brands."
"Uday was always ambitious in his agenda for Australia and he delivered the results. We congratulate Uday on his new appointment and wish him continued success."
"It's been a privilege to have worked with Uday. He will be leaving behind a very different bank to the one he joined in 2016."
Under Mr Sareen's leadership, more than 1 million customers have joined ING Bank. Today the bank has 2.7 million customers and almost 1 million of them treat ING as their main bank. Mr Sareen has also overseen strong growth in ING's wholesale banking activities in Australia.
Melanie Evans said:
"As ING's new CEO in Australia my focus will be to drive the bank's growth and diversification agenda. I will continue to prioritise our customers and team members."
"Our history as Australia's first fintech, most recommended bank, a trusted brand and for doing things differently will remain front and centre. We're proud of what makes us a modern bank. We exist for our customers – so they can focus on the things that matter to them."
Uday Sareen said:
"I've been proud to lead a bank that's ramped up the competitive spirit in both retail and wholesale banking, offering a real alternative for Australians."
"While we are a leading digital bank it is the commitment of our people to our customers and each other that makes ING so special and what I will miss most."
"ING Australia is one of the fastest growing banks in Australia and continues to be a great opportunity for ING Group."
Mr Sareen will relocate to Europe for his new role.
