ASX has appointed Keir Barnes as Chief Financial Officer while naming former NZX CEO Mark Peterson Managing Director of Clearing and Settlement and J.P. Morgan veteran Elaine Vaisanen Chief Operating Officer as part of the Australian exchange operator’s transformation and renewal program.
The appointments are among the first major leadership actions under Managing Director and CEO Anthony Attia, who began leading ASX on September 1, 2026. All three executives will report into Attia and join the ASX Executive Leadership Team.
Barnes will succeed Andrew Tobin, whose planned retirement was announced earlier in the year.
Tobin will remain CFO until Barnes begins and will assist with the transition.
Barnes joins ASX from Dexus, where she has served as CFO since 2021 after previously spending two years as deputy CFO.
She brings more than 20 years of finance and capital markets experience spanning funds management, corporate advisory and chartered accounting.
Peterson will take over a newly constituted Managing Director, Clearing and Settlement position in November 2026.
He previously spent nine years as CEO of New Zealand-listed exchange operator NZX through April 2026 and was its Head of Markets before becoming CEO.
Across a 35-year career, Peterson has also held senior positions at ANZ, First NZ Capital and National Bank of New Zealand.
Peterson will additionally sit on ASX’s separate Clearing and Settlement Boards and will have a dual reporting line to Attia and those boards.
Vaisanen will become COO in December 2026, succeeding Diona Rae, who is leaving ASX.
The redesigned position will also give Vaisanen responsibility for Accelerate, ASX’s transformation program.
She brings more than 25 years of global markets and client services experience, primarily from J.P. Morgan in Europe and Australia.
Her most recent position was Head of Fund Services for Asia-Pacific, following an earlier role as Head of Corporate and Investment Bank Operations for Australia and New Zealand.
The leadership changes bring additional financial markets, operational and transformation experience into ASX as management works to improve execution and position the exchange for future growth.
KEY QUOTES:
“Keir, Mark and Elaine have decades of global experience in finance, markets and complex operating environments, as well as leading teams through periods of significant transformation.”
“They are high calibre, seasoned executives who will help speed up this next phase in ASX’s development and explore opportunities for future growth.”
Anthony Attia, Managing Director and CEO of ASX
