Captains of Industry Luncheon with Michael Smith, CEO of Australia and New Zealand Banking Group

The global financial crisis has accelerated the shift in the world's economic and financial centre of gravity toward Asia.  At the same time, the recovery in the world economy is going to be slower and more volatile than anticipated.  What challenges and opportunities will this bring to Asia and its financial sector in the Year of the Tiger and beyond?  A perspective from a regional banker.

Michael Smith is Chief Executive Officer of Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited (ANZ), a leading financial services group in Australia and New Zealand with a significant presence in Asia Pacific.

Until June 2007, Mr Smith was President and Chief Executive Officer, The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited; Chairman, Hang Seng Bank Limited; Global Head of Commercial Banking for the HSBC Group and Chairman, HSBC Bank Malaysia Berhad. Previously, Mr Smith was Chief Executive Officer of HSBC Argentina Holdings SA and was subsequently appointed Chairman of HSBC in Argentina in 2000. Mr Smith joined the HSBC Group in 1978 and during his 29-year career he held a wide variety of posts in Hong Kong and the Asia-Pacific region, the United Kingdom, Australia, the Middle East and South America, including appointments in Commercial, Institutional and Investment Banking, Planning and Strategy, Operations and General Management.

Mr Smith graduated with honours in Economic Sciences in 1978 from City University of London. He is a Member of the Asia Business Council, the Business Council of Australia and the Australian Bankers’ Association Council. Mr Smith is also a member of the Chongqing Mayor’s International Economic Advisory Council, the Shanghai International Financial Advisory Council and a Fellow of The Hong Kong Management Association. He is also a director of the Financial Markets Foundation for Children and a member of the Financial Literacy Advisory Board.

Mr Smith was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2000 and a Chevalier de l’Ordre du Merite Agricole in 2007. He is married with three children. His interests include wine, golf and classic cars.