Vittoria Shortt

In 2019, Vittoria Shortt was recognised as a Distinguished Alumni of the University of Waikato in recognition of her career achievements and support of emerging leaders, particularly women, in the finance industry.

Vittoria Shortt is the CEO of ASB, focusing the bank on accelerating the financial future of New Zealanders against a backdrop of continual market disruption, rapidly evolving technologies, and ever-changing customer needs.

Ms Shortt completed a Bachelor of Management Studies degree at the University of Waikato in 1994, and she received a Distinguished Alumni Award from the university in 2019.

Her first job was in the audit team at global professional services firm Deloitte, followed by a period in the corporate finance team.

She then worked for Carter Holt Harvey in mergers and acquisitions and commercial roles. It was there she discovered her love of business and developed her strategy, communication and commercial skills.

Her next move in 2002 was into banking in Sydney at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA), where she held senior executive positions across operations, retail, strategy and marketing.

The University of Waikato BMS degree was a terrific start, made more special by the long-term friendships that have endured despite global careers.

By 2015 she was Group Executive Marketing and Strategy, and a member of the bank’s executive leadership team.

Over the course of her career with CBA, Ms Shortt supported and mentored women in the financial and marketing sectors, and worked with government to improve mathematical literacy skills in Australia.

She remains a strong advocate of diversity and inclusion, mentoring women working in the financial and marketing sectors.

In 2018 she returned home to New Zealand to become Chief Executive and Managing Director of ASB Bank, motivated by the opportunity to help Kiwis be financially resilient.

Ms Shortt says she constantly reflects on her management style and decision-making, and encourages her colleagues to do the same, to ensure ASB delivers experiences that are simple and easy every day.

She is a member of Global Women in New Zealand, and Chief Executive Women in Australia. She is also a Fellow Chartered Accountant with the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Australia and New Zealand.

“While not exactly planned this way, my career has mirrored my university journey from accounting to finance to strategic management,” she says. “The University of Waikato BMS degree was a terrific start, made more special by the long-term friendships that have endured despite global careers.”

She says that planned well, it is possible as a mother and a CEO to maintain a good work-life balance.