Gail Kelly, a trailblazer for women in Australia’s banking industry, has been nominated for election on the board of directors at UBS Group AG.
Colm Kelleher, the chairperson of the board of directors at the global corporation, said Kelly’s nomination promises great things for UBS Group.
“As one of the most influential voices in the Asia-Pacific financial industry and an acknowledged leader, Gail has an outstanding reputation,” Kelleher said.
“I greatly look forward to working with her on the Board.”
Kelly was the managing director at St George Bank from 2002, before being appointed as CEO of Westpac Banking Corporation in 2008. She was the first woman to be appointed as the chief executive of any major bank in Australia.
During her tenure as CEO of Westpac, she successfully oversaw the merger with St George Bank, deemed the largest market financial services merger in Australia. Kelly also navigated the company through the Global Financial Crisis and emerged on the other side stronger than ever.
Kelly was CEO of Westpac from 2008-2015. Since leaving the bank, she has served as a senior global advisor to the UBS CEO and its group executive board from 2016-2023.
Kelly’s nomination to be elected on the board at UBS Group AG comes as Dieter Wemmer, the longest serving Board member of UBS Group US, informed the company he would not be standing for re-election to the Board of Directors.
UBS Chairperson Colm Kelleher thanked Wemmer for his eight years of service on the Board, a role he commenced in 2016.
“Dieter’s formidable expertise and personality will be missed on the Group Board,” Kelleher said.
Currently, there are four women who sit on the 13-person Board of Directors at UBS Group AG.
The Board election, for which Kelly has been nominated, will take place at the Annual General Meeting on 24 April 2024.
Kelly currently sits on several Boards, including Singtel, Woolworths Holdings Limited in South Africa and the Australian Philanthropic Services.