Bank of Sydney has strengthened its executive team with three internal appointments, as the bank moves past a period of major transformation and shifts focus to growth.
Stella Grilis (pictured left) has been elevated to the executive team as chief financial officer, while Maria Karavias (pictured right) steps into a newly created chief customer officer role. Caroline Ferris has also been appointed head of transformation and strategy, reporting to chief operating officer Geoff Wenborn.
CEO Kieran McKenna said the moves reflect the bank's commitment to promoting from within.
"These appointments recognise highly respected leaders who have already made significant contributions to Bank of Sydney, which is more important than ever as we enter this next phase of growth," McKenna said.
He added the appointments underline the depth of the bank's internal talent pipeline.
"Stella, Maria, and Caroline have all played important roles in our transformation journey, and these appointments demonstrate the strength of our team and our commitment to developing leaders from within the organisation," McKenna said.
Grilis brings more than two decades at Bank of Sydney to the CFO role, having most recently served as acting CFO after joining in 2004 and progressing through financial control, risk, and regulatory accounting positions. Her appointment gives the bank continuity across finance, treasury, credit, and risk functions at executive level.
Karavias, who joined the bank as chief marketing officer in 2023, moves into the newly established CCO position after strengthening the bank's brand, product and digital offering. The creation of the role signals the growing weight the bank is placing on customer experience as a point of differentiation.
Ferris, meanwhile, joined in 2024 as head of core banking transformation and led delivery of the bank's largest-ever transformation program before taking on her expanded strategy remit.
The bank operates a branch network across Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide and has held a full banking licence since 2001.
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