Suncorp Group has announced the appointment of Bridget Messer as Group Chief Risk Officer (CRO), subject to regulatory approval. Messer will join Suncorp from IG Group, a London-based FTSE 250 company where she was Executive Director and Chief Commercial Officer. She will relocate from the UK and is expected to commence in early 2022.
Suncorp Group CEO Steve Johnston said Messer’s recent background, as part of a business “at the intersection of digital, technology and financial services”, would be invaluable to Suncorp.
“Bridget brings expertise across regulatory, compliance, legal and governance in a high-growth business, and we are delighted to welcome her to Suncorp to lead our Risk function,” Johnston said. “She also has deep commercial experience and a global perspective, having led teams across multiple geographies.
“Our Risk function is a key enabler of Suncorp’s FY23 strategy, ensuring the Group’s systems, processes and services are well positioned to support our growth ambitions.
“Ensuring we have strong risk oversight, culture and strategy remains critical as we navigate today’s regulatory environment and as Suncorp focuses on digital and technology-led growth.”
Messer, who will become a member of Suncorp’s Executive Leadership Team, said she was looking forward to joining Suncorp at this point in its evolution.
“As a Queenslander, the iconic Suncorp brand is very familiar to me and I am looking forward to returning home to work with teams across the business to continue to embed a strong rigour and focus on managing risk,” Messer said.
Longstanding Suncorp executive Stuart Cameron will remain Acting CRO until Messer’s arrival.
Suncorp said Messer has extensive expertise in management, law, regulatory and compliance, having spent the past 16 years with IG Group. Prior to IG Group, Messer was a solicitor with Deutsche Bank on the distressed debt desk, after starting her career in Australia as a solicitor with the financial services and corporate advisory team of Corrs Chambers Westgarth Lawyers.
Messer holds a Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours) and a Bachelor of Business (Dean’s Honour List) from the Queensland University of Technology.