Suncorp Group has appointed Bridget Messer as its new group chief risk officer (CRO), effective early 2022.
Messer has extensive expertise in management, law, regulatory, and compliance, having spent 16 years with IG Group Holdings, an online high-growth trading platform. She also has international experience and listed board experience as an executive director, and previously company secretary, with IG Group.
Most recently, Messer was the executive director and chief commercial officer at IG Group, based in London, UK, after holding roles as global head of compliance and general counsel. In this role, she was responsible for driving growth and international expansion in a heavily regulated context while leading a large and diverse team.
Before working with IG Group, she was a solicitor at 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.
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In her new role at Suncorp, Messer will move from the UK into Brisbane to join the Group's executive leadership team.
Commenting on her appointment, Messer said: “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.”
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 the group.
“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.”
