National Australia Bank (NAB) is combining technology and AI under one executive role as part of a broader leadership shake-up.

Pete Steel, currently Group Executive Digital Data and AI, will become Group Executive Technology and AI.

He will oversee technology strategy, data, analytics and AI, architecture modernisation and cyber security.

Two Senior Executives to Retire

Patrick Wright, Group Executive Technology and Enterprise Operations, will leave NAB’s Executive Leadership Team on 30 September 2026 as he transitions to retirement.

He will remain as a special adviser to Group CEO Andrew Irvine before retiring from NAB in the first half of 2027.

Group Chief Operating Officer Les Matheson will also retire on 30 September.

Most of their responsibilities will be reassigned to existing executives.

Operations and Ubank Oversight Shift

Shane Conway, currently Group Executive Transformation, will become Group Executive Transformation and Operations.

He will oversee enterprise simplification, customer experience and services, technology modernisation, financial crime, digital and NAB’s innovation centres in India and Vietnam.

NAB is also shifting oversight of Ubank to Group Executive Personal Banking Ana Marinkovic.

Group General Counsel Jon Benson will join the Executive Leadership Team from 1 October 2026.

Irvine described the changes as part of NAB’s succession planning and credited Wright and Matheson for their contributions across technology, digital and customer operations.

The changes will reduce the number of NAB Group Executives by one.

Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Australia, based on images from NAB’s Media Hub and Pete Steel profile.