ANZ NZ's Michael Bullock goes back to the future, returning to the role of Chief Operating Officer he previously held for five years

ANZ New Zealand is reappointing Michael Bullock to his old role at the bank of Chief Operating Officer (COO).

The bank announced on Thursday Bullock, ANZ's Chief Information Officer for New Zealand and the Pacific since 2020, is being appointed to the "newly established" role of COO, from November 2, assuming the standard requirement of no Reserve Bank objection to the appointment.

Bullock is, however, being reappointed to his old job as he was previously ANZ NZ's COO between 2015 and 2020 after succeeding Craig Sims in the role.

ANZ NZ says Bullock will be in its leadership team and report to its new CEO Ben Kelleher, who has succeeded Antonia Watson, with "a dotted reporting line" to ANZ Group COO Stephen White. 

"Mr Bullock has been with ANZ for 17 years and is currently Chief Information Officer, leading ANZ NZ’s Technology team in New Zealand. His previous roles include Chief Operating Officer, General Manager Institutional Operations, and Acting Group Executive and Chief Information Officer for ANZ Group. Before joining ANZ, Mr Bullock held senior banking roles in New York and London," ANZ NZ says. 

Given Bullock's move, ANZ NZ says it'll undertake an internal and external recruitment process for a new Chief Information Officer (CIO). 

"Until a permanent appointment is made, General Manager Enterprise Architecture Martin Buis will be Acting CIO from 2 November 2026. With Mr Kelleher commencing as CEO today, a new Chief Risk Officer (CRO) will be announced shortly. In the interim, General Manager Operational Risk and Compliance Melanie Biss will be Acting CRO from 1 October 2026," the bank says.