The MAS Board is pleased to announce the appointment of Melissa Macfarlane as a director, effective 1 February 2025. Melissa brings a wealth of expertise in financial services, with significant leadership capabilities in strategy, risk, technology, transformation and change management.
Melissa has held prominent roles at Westpac Bank, including Chief Digital Officer, Head of Corporate Strategy, and COO of Wealth and Insurance. In this role, Melissa was responsible for overseeing all general and life insurance elements. Melissa also led the insurance sector for the Institutional Bank providing full banking services. In her digital-lead role, Melissa launched the travel insurance partnership and reviewed strategic options for the Life business.
Currently, Melissa serves as the New Zealand Country Head for Constantinople, a fully managed software and operations platform for banks to enhance customer experiences.
“I’m delighted to have Melissa join us on the Board, as she brings a diverse set of skills in the financial services sector that will be valuable to the governance of MAS,” says Brett Sutton, MAS Board Chair.
"In recent years, MAS’s regulators at the Financial Markets Authority and Reserve Bank of New Zealand have set robust expectations for the governance of financial services boards, so it is critical for the MAS Board to ensure we has the right balance of skills and experience to appropriately discharge our duties."
Melissa says that “It’s a privilege to be joining the MAS Board and I’m looking forward to contributing to a such a member-driven organisation with a strong reputation in insurance and wealth management. As the financial landscape evolves, there are a whole host of opportunities to enhance our digital services and technology foundations, while maintaining the personal touch that makes MAS special. I look forward to working with the team on the exciting journey ahead.”
Full Members get the opportunity to vote on Melissa’s appointment at the August 2025 AGM. A Notice of Meeting will be sent to Members for review in advance of the AGM.
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