The Warehouse Group (TWG) has appointed two independent directors to the board of its financial services business.

Both have significant experience in financial services and other relevant specialist skills gained locally and overseas.

Graeme Hansen is now chairman of the financial services business.

Hansen’s experience includes CEO and board roles in the Barclays Banking Group in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and Barclays Global Private Banking. Since returning to NZ, he has been CEO of Public Trust and the New Zealand Racing Board and was an independent director of PGG Wrightson Finance.

Mike Laing currently chair of the Australian Retail Credit Association has been appointed an independent director.

Laing is based in Melbourne and leads an advisory practice focused on cards and payments, corporate and business unit strategy and IT outsourcing. His previous roles include being a member of the senior executive team of the National Australia Bank, and an executive director of the BNZ.

In addition to the appointment of two independent directors, current TWG directors Keith Smith and James Ogden have been appointed to the board of the Financial Services business. Group CEO, Mark Powell, and group CFO, Mark Yeoman, have been appointed executive directors also.

TWG chairman Ted van Arkel said that these appointments, along with Yeoman who also has financial services experience commencing his role as group CFO, will ensure that the financial services business has the appropriate governance oversight and access to a broad range of skills and experience necessary to be successful.