ANZ Cook Islands is set to see a leadership change early next year, with current country head Jason Murray swapping roles with David Dudley, who is currently the country head of Tonga.
The bank announced yesterday that, pending regulatory approvals, Murray will assume the country head position for Tonga, while Dudley will take over the leadership of ANZ in the Cook Islands, effective March 1, 2026.
Sarah Stubbings, regional executive for the Pacific, commented on the changes, stating: “These changes demonstrate ANZ’s commitment to delivering strong, adaptable leadership across the Pacific and further strengthen our capability in two of our core markets.”
She added, “We thank Jason and David for the significant contributions they have made in Tonga and the Cook Islands and congratulate them on their new appointments. Both Jason and David are passionate about building high-performing teams and supporting local communities, and I’m confident they will bring the very best of ANZ to their new roles.”
Murray has led ANZ’s Cook Islands business since August 2022, successfully driving improvements in process, asset quality, and portfolio management. The statement highlighted Murray’s collaborative style and commercial acumen, noting, “Jason has built strong relationships with customers, regulators, and community stakeholders.”
With over twenty years of banking experience, Murray previously served as the commercial head in Kiribati before his current role.
David Dudley, the incoming country head for the Cook Islands, brings more than 35 years of experience with ANZ and has been heading the Tonga business for the past seven years.
His leadership tenure has been characterized by resilience and strategic guidance through natural disasters, economic changes, and regulatory shifts. Dudley has also held the position of chair of the Association of Banks in Tonga and has maintained strong ties with the Reserve Bank and other key stakeholders.
Stubbings emphasized the importance of the Pacific to ANZ’s international network, saying, “The Pacific remains a key part of ANZ’s international network, and these appointments strengthen our leadership capability in a region we are deeply committed to.”
She noted that both leaders and their teams are “looking forward to continuing to serve our customers, grow digital banking, and deliver financial literacy programs such as MoneyMinded in both markets.”
This leadership swap aims to build on ANZ’s strong presence and commitment in the Pacific markets, supporting both operational growth and community engagement through seasoned and dedicated leadership.
