After an illustrious career which started in a Mount Isa credit union and included a stint as managing Director of the Brisbane Broncos, Bruno Cullen stepped down from his role as Chair of the Queensland Country Bank Board.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Queensland Country Group CEO 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 what was then 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.
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.
"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.
Christine Flynn, current director of Queensland Country Bank and former Chair of the Board of the Queenslanders Credit Union until 2018, will replace Mr Cullen in the Chair position.
Mr Cullen will remain on the Board as a director until the 2020 AGM 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.
Mr Cullen 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."
Mr Cullen says Queensland Country Bank's proactive and well thought out response to the COVID-19 pandemic is testament to the organisation's strength and ability to withstand challenging conditions.
"We focus on our people and Members first," he said.
"Because we're engaged with our Members, 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 said 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 said.
"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.
"I don't know what it is like to not have anything to do, but I wouldn't mind trying it, I might like it"
Mr Cullen will remain as Chair on the Board of Krause Health and Safety, a business which was founded in 1996 by his late brother-in-law, Bill Krause, and remains locally owned and operated in Mount Isa.
While you are here subscribe to our weekly email newsletter delivered to your inbox at 6am every Friday.
Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
