NAB’s Ken Henry says he should have been more open’ during royal commission

Outgoing NAB chairman Ken Henry has admitted his performance on the stand during the royal commission into the banking sector was uncomfortable to remember.

The NABs outgoing chairman believes he leaves the embattled financial institution in a better shape than when he found it.

Ken Henry and CEO Andrew Thorburn tendered their resignation today after mounting pressure from the release of the Royal Commission’s findings this week.

Mr Henry agreed the commission showed the wide gap between the public face of the company and how it operated in private.

“There is a big gap. The gap as I see it is NAB does aspire to do the right thing by every customer every time and everywhere,” he told ABC’s 7.30.

“We’ve got an absolute mountain to climb in NAB in order to achieve our aspiration for the bank. We know we’re on the right path.”

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NAB outgoing chairman Ken Henry on 7.30 ABC. Picture: Twitter/ 7.30.

During the Royal Commission Mr Henry was heavily criticised for his demeanour and his responses to questions posed.

He said his performance on the stand was uncomfortable to remember.

“I can’t tell you how many times I’ve relived that appearance, I understand the criticism,” he said.

“I did not perform well. I really should have performed quite differently. I should have been much more open.”

Bank executives have been questioned about their leadership since the commission and this has increased since Commissioner Kenneth Hayne released his findings.

However, Mr Henry says he’s leaving NAB in a better shape than he found it.

“I’m confident that in the next few years the bank will be in a much stronger position,” he said.

“We are much closer to delivering on our expectations.”

Originally published as NAB’s Ken Henry says he should have been more open’ during royal commission