Heritage Bank hires first ESG and sustainability manager

Heritage Bank has created the role of ESG and sustainability manager.

The mutual bank has hired Andrew Masci to the newly created role, its first dedicated ESG resource.

Masci will drive the ongoing development of Heritage's ESG framework including the delivery of improved governance and reporting of Heritage's ESG performance and projects such as carbon neutral certification.

Masci has more than 15 years' experience across environmental management, corporate sustainability and ESG and comes to Heritage Bank from Airservices Australia, where he was senior environmental sustainability specialist. In that role, he helped develop and implement its Environmental Sustainability Strategy and Action Plan.

"As a proudly customer-owned bank, acting responsibly and ethically has always been inherent in our activities," said Heritage CEO Peter Lock. "Andrew Masci brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this newly created ESG role.

"His appointment reinforces Heritage's commitment to creating long-term value for our members by proactively working towards a more socially conscious and environmentally sustainable future."

Masci said he was looking forward to growing the capability and understanding of the importance of ESG to Heritage staff and members.

"As societal sentiment shifts to be more climate aware and focus on responsible banking, we have a greater need to be sustainable," Masci said. "For the banking sector there has been a significant shift to grow and manage ESG risk, as well as identify and implement opportunities.

"I have always believed that real change towards a Net-Zero future begins with the finance industry and being able to drive this change at Heritage was an opportunity I could not pass up."