After an illustrious career which started as a teller in a Mount Isa credit union and included a stint as the Managing Director of the Brisbane Broncos, Bruno Cullen has taken a step closer to semi-retirement and stepped down from his role as Chair of the Queensland Country Bank Board.
Our Group Chief Executive Officer Aaron Newman praised Mr Cullen for his significant contribution and leadership to the member-owned organisation over 43 years.
“Bruno is highly regarded and has led Queensland Country Bank through significant growth including two mergers, core banking conversion, transition from credit union to mutual bank, and achieving an external credit rating,” he said.
“We’re grateful to Bruno for his contribution and leadership to Queensland Country Bank and wish him all the best.”
Mr Cullen commenced his career with Queensland Country Bank, (known as the Isa Mine Employee's Credit Union) in 1977 and held various management positions with Queensland Country until 2003, progressing from Loans and Finance Manager and Assistant General Manager through to Managing Director, a position he held for 14 years. He has served on the Board of Directors since 2001 and as Chair since 2006.
“Bruno had originally planned to step down several years ago, but as merger opportunities arose, it was important for him to stay on to see our organisation through those significant growth periods,” he said.
Mr Newman said that although Mr Cullen’s experience, humour and wisdom would be missed within the organisation, his departure was well planned in advance to ensure a smooth transition.
Christine Flynn, current director of Queensland Country Bank and former Chair of the Board of the Queenslanders Credit Union until 2018 (upon the merger with Queensland Country), will replace Mr Cullen in the Chair position. Mr Cullen will remain on the Board as a director until the 2020 Annual General Meeting in November to assist with the transition period and continue to Chair a Committee dedicated to the organisation’s management of and response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Bruno says he has full confidence in the organisation’s continued growth and success under Ms Flynn’s leadership.
“I’m tremendously proud of what has been achieved over the years and as a business we’re very confident in our financial strength and stability to navigate difficult times,” Mr Cullen said.
“This organisation has had very professional directorship with vision and foresight from its very beginning and a focus on putting people and communities first. That mindset cascaded on to myself and continues with the incoming Chair, directors, executive team and staff.
“Christine has a considerable amount of experience and is well supported by a Board of highly skilled directors, so they will continue to run the business effectively and provide terrific leadership and innovative thinking.”
Mr Cullen praised how our proactive and well thought out our response to the current COVID-19 pandemic is testament to our strength and ability to withstand challenging conditions as a business.
“We focus on our people and Members first,” he said.
“Because we’re engaged with the communities we work in, we are well across their issues and know what we need to do to respond quickly and help them through tough times such as drought, bushfire, cyclones, floods, and now a pandemic.”
Mr Cullen good naturedly acknowledges that COVID-19 restrictions, including the suspension of National Rugby League games, have hampered his plans for enjoying his newfound free time for the things he loves.
“It’s very frustrating to not be able to watch sport in general,” he laughs.
“Because we can’t physically be with the kids and grandchildren at the moment, we all set our screens up and had a virtual barbecue on Sunday night so we could at least see each other.".