Updated

New era at NAB: Andrew Irvine primed to take the fight to CBA

James Eyers and Lucas Baird

Updated Feb 7, 2024 – 11.55am, first published at 8.19am

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Incoming National Australia Bank chief executive Andrew Irvine will invest in new data capabilities in a bid to up the pressure on main rival Commonwealth Bank’s prized position as the nation’s largest business deposit franchise.

NAB announced on Wednesday that Mr Irvine – who has been its business banking boss since 2020 – will take over from Ross McEwan on April 2. The successor argued his greatest challenge would be responding to digital shifts making product distribution more complex for banks in a market that remains intensely competitive.

James Eyers writes on banking, payments and fintech. He is a former legal and investment banking editor at the AFR, has degrees in commerce and law from UNSW, and is co-author of Buy now, pay later: The extraordinary story of Afterpay

Lucas Baird is a journalist based in The Australian Financial Review's Sydney office.