NAB chief executive Andrew Irvine breaks silence after facing media scrutiny over management style, drinking at events

Sky News AU

5 days ago

The boss of a major Australian bank has spoken out after facing intense public scrutiny over his management style and drinking at corporate events.
Concerns were raised about NAB chief executive Andrew Irvine by major investors over his behaviour, leading the bank to increase leadership development and mentoring, according to The Australian Financial Review.
In his first public appearance since the reports arose, Mr Irvine told attendees at an Australian Banking Association conference that he had struggled with the media scrutiny.
'Last week was difficult, I'm not going to beat around the bush, especially when media is quite personal and public. So it was hard for me and for my family,' Mr Irvine said to outgoing ABA chief executive and former Queensland Premier Anna Bligh.
'I expect that there's public scrutiny in roles like this, you just hope that it's even-handed and balanced as you kind of go through it.
'I'm sure you've experienced this as a politician in the past and many public figures will experience media.
'I've just got to get through it.'
Concerns about Mr Irvine's management style were reportedly raised with NAB's chairman Phil Chronican at an investor lunch in June, where some fund managers questioned whether the bank boss needed to curtail his drinking at events.
Following the scrutiny, NAB issued a statement defending Mr Irvine and the bank's leadership team.
'Andrew Irvine and the NAB leadership team are delivering sound financial and operational results,' an NAB spokesperson said.
'They are executing on a refreshed strategy focused on further improving customers and colleague outcomes.'
Mr Irvine also reportedly missed an informal board meeting to discuss the recent reporting about his leadership because he was asleep.
He said he missed the meeting as he was on annual leave in Toronto where it was 3am - while the meeting took place at 5pm Sydney time.
'It was an informal conversation to try and get the facts around what was being said and whether the board felt it was fair and warranted,' Mr Irving told media outside the ABA conference, per The Australian.
Pressed on whether any changes were warranted, Mr Irvine said he would continue to invest in his relationships with the bank's customers.
'It helps me understanding their business and it helps them understand how we're supporting them, and they often give us their business as a result,' Mr Irvine said.
'So I'm not going to change the amount of time I spend with our customers, I think it's a really important part of who I am and what I want the rest of our staff to be doing.'
The NAB chief executive was promoted to the bank's top job in April 2024 from the head of the NAB business banking division.