ANZ Bank hires tech panel to advise board

ANZ Bank has appointed a panel of external technology executives to advise its board on the "strategic application" of new technologies.

Four technology executives will meet quarterly as members of the bank's new international technology and digital business advisory panel.

ANZ has appointed Twitter APAC head of online sales Aliza Knox, former head of global retail and strategic development for PayPal Don Kinsborough, former CIO of Procter & Gamble Filippo Passerini, and head of strategy and engagement for Dimension Data Gerard Florian to the panel.

Bank chairman David Gonski said the aim of establishing the advisory group was to ensure ANZ's board and management have access to the "external perspectives, specialist insights and trusted advice" that will allow it to properly consider opportunities and challenges.

"The financial services industry is now undergoing rapid change driven by advances in digital technology," Gonski said in a statement.

The panel's first meeting will take place later this year.

An ANZ spokesperson said the panel would help provide an external persective on issues and trends not just in the technology space, but also in the context of social media and business transformation.

Passerini will advise ANZ on how best to use technology internally to re-engineer processes and service delivery, while Twitter's Knox will help the bank to make the shift from thinking about social media to social business, the spokesperson said.

ANZ's big four rivals - Westpac, NAB and CBA - have all in recent times announced innovation hubs or venture efforts designed to tap into innovative ideas and capabilities globally.

NAB's Ventures fund - announced late last month - has pledged $50 million towards partnerships with "innovative" companies both in Australia and overseas.

Westpac launched its own $50 million innovation venture fund Reinventure mid last year, around the same time as the Commonwealth Bank debuted an innovation lab in its Sydney offices.

ANZ is yet to announce a similar effort, but has a dedicated 'innovation' function run by head of global wealth Joyce Phillips.