Michael Smith - Chief Executive Officer

I also want to create a stronger vision for ANZ's future. That will involve a focus on growth opportunities domestically, and in Asia, to create a significant domestic and regional financial services institution. Global economic growth is now being driven by developing countries, many of them in Asia. For example, it is forecast that China will overtake the US as the world's largest economy by 2020. India too will become an even more significant global economy.

In Australia and New Zealand competition is intense. We need to continue to sharpen our performance to be an even more successful and sustainable financial institution tomorrow, than we are today.

My aim as your new Chief Executive is to give a new vitality to our momentum that will deliver superior growth and performance for our shareholders.

MICHEAL SMITH - CEO