Wide Bay Australia bank chief has big shoes to fill

 FOR many, the thought of filling Wide Bay Australia founder Ron Hancock's shoes is a daunting and seemingly impossible task after his 46 years in the top job.

But speaking to the company's new chief executive officer Martin Barrett, you would never guess it.

If anything, the 48-year-old married father of two seems excited at the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead.

"They're big shoes to fill, but it's good to have a new direction to take the organisation in," Mr Barrett said.

"It's an exciting journey ahead for Wide Bay business and I'm really encouraged by the team's enthusiasm."

He's been in the role less than two months and already the banking whiz is making some big changes.

"There's a lot to do and we've done a lot," he said.

"We announced a structural change at the end of last week. It's been very, very busy but good fun as well."

Mr Barrett has big dreams for the company and hopes to expand from the get-go.

"I'd like us to have the biggest market share position in retail banking in the Wide Bay area," he said.

"That's quite a big goal considering we're up against your Commonwealths and ANZ, but I believe we've got the community support."

Mr Barrett is also keen to expand the business banking component.

"We're starting a bigger business banking platform and we've also established a human resources department, which we didn't have before," he said.

"Some quite big changes are happening, but ones that I think will put us in a good place for the future."

Mr Barrett said the company's huge community support record would not leave with Mr Hancock.

"We spend a large amount of money in the community and that will continue," he said.

"It's a really important part of our continued support and I'm not anticipating changing that."

During his 26-year finance career, Mr Barrett has carved out an impressive resume both in Australia and the United Kingdom.

"I did the Yorkshire brand for NAB in Manchester and I ran the Clydesdale bank in London," he said.

"Then St George came calling and asked if I would establish and expand the brand in WA."

From there he went to St George in Sydney before ending his time with the bank running the Queensland and WA banking operations.

He also ran the company's national automotive finance business.

"I'd been with them for 10 years but the Wide Bay opportunity was one that was too good for me to not pursue," he said.

So he packed up with wife Jenny, son Sam, 11, and daughter Emily, 15, and made the move from Brisbane to Bundaberg, a place with very fond memories.

"In 1985 when I finished uni, I went around Australia with a mate on motorbikes and I clearly remember Bundaberg," Mr Barrett said.

"I met my now-wife at a Canberra youth hostel. She was over from the UK and I talked her into getting on the back of my bike for the rest of the trip."

The pair had a close call with a truck just out of town but escaped unscathed.

"From there a wonderful romance blossomed," he said.

He never dreamed he'd return to the region in the role he has.

"We're looking forward to a good 2014 financial year."