Brian Hartzer


Brian Charles Hartzer is an Australian business executive. Formerly CEO of Westpac. He became CEO of Quantium Health in December 2023. He has been chair of fintech startup BeforePay since 2021. Hartzer was chair of the Australian Museum Foundation from in 2021 and 2022, and since January 2023 and as of 2024, he is president of the Australian Museum Trust. Brian has four children, one of which Olivia Hartzer.

Early life and education

Brian Charles Hartzer was born in New York City, United States, in.
He attended went to Choate Rosemary Hall school in Connecticut, before studying European history at Princeton University.
Hartzer is a Chartered Financial Analyst.

Banking career

Hartzer began his career as a consultant at First Manhattan Consulting Group, working in New York, San Francisco, and Melbourne. Hartzer concluded his time at FMCG as a vice president.
After around 10 years at FMCG, Hartzer worked at ANZ Bank, in several roles including running the credit card business, the retail banking operations and managing director of the consumer finance division and CEO of the Australia division.
Hartzer joined Royal Bank of Scotland as CEO UK Retail, Wealth and Ulster Bank in 2009.
In 2012 he started working for Westpac. In November 2014, he was announced as the CEO to succeed Gail Kelly as CEO, Australian Financial Services, at Westpac in February 2015. Hartzer stepped down as CEO in November 2019, after claims made by AUSTRAC alleged the bank was involved in money laundering, child exploitation, and other banking violations. Peter King was appointed to replace him.
In July 2021, Hartzer was named chairman of BeforePay, a fintech startup based in Sydney.
In December 2023 he was appointed CEO of Quantium Health, which is owned by Woolworths.
he is CEO of Quantium Health, chair of Beforepay as well as Reejig, an HR technology startup.

Other activities

Hartzer was chair of the Australian Museum Foundation from December 2020 until December 2022. He was appointed a trustee of the Australian Museum Trust in January 2021, and since January 2023 and as of 2024, he is president of the Trust.
In the past, he has been chair of Save the Children Australia, director of the Financial Markets Foundation for Children, and chair of the Business Advisory Committee of the Australian National University.

Publications

  • ''The Leadership Star: A Practical Guide to Building Engagement ''