Fulfilling the needs of our customers and doing good within the communities we serve are the top priorities for our Executive team. For a showcase of the team's performance and accomplishments, see our Annual Reports.
Steve Laidlaw
Chief Executive Officer, People First Bank
BEc, BCom, FCA, FAICD, AMP (Harvard)
Steve has significant people leadership and executive management experience in the retail banking and finance industry.
Steve was Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of People’s Choice Credit Union from 2016 until the merger with Heritage Bank in 2023 which formed People First Bank.
Steve was appointed Deputy CEO following the merger and assumed the role of CEO in July 2024.
Michael Töns
Acting Chief Customer Officer
BA, BSc, MBA
Michael has almost 20 years’ experience in senior roles across a variety of functions including risk, sustainability, strategy, research & development and communications. He was instrumental in the merger between People’s Choice and Heritage Bank as Chief Merger Integration Officer and, prior to that, was the Chief Risk Officer of People's Choice.
He is a Director of the People First Bank Foundation, reflecting his deep connection to community engagement.
He has worked in the banking sector for more than 15 years following a career in software development and consulting.
Peter Corolis
Chief Risk Officer
BComm, GradDip AppFin & Inv, GMB (Harvard)
Peter was appointed Chief Risk Officer at People’s Choice in 2016 and has over 20 years’ experience in banking and finance.
Previous experience includes executive positions in banking operations and risk management at Rural Bank, and senior leadership roles with APRA. He has considerable experience in strategic planning, organisational design, risk management, program management and banking operations.
Vince Pace
Chief Financial Officer
MAcctg, BComm, FCPA
Vince has spent more than 20 years in executive finance and treasury roles in the banking and utilities sectors.
Before being appointed Chief Financial Officer at People’s Choice in 2017, Vince was Chief Financial Officer at ElectraNet, the operator of South Australia’s electricity transmission network, and prior to that was the Head of Corporate Services and General Manager Finance & Treasury with Bendigo and Adelaide Bank.
Vince is Chair of Mutual Marketplace, a specialist procurement business delivering savings for the Australian mutual industry.
Taryn Shearn
Chief Legal Officer & Company Secretary
LLB (Hons), BComm, AMP (Harvard), FGIA
Taryn was appointed Chief Legal Officer and Company Secretary in 2020.
Taryn is a highly experienced lawyer and company secretary, leading People First Bank’s legal and corporate governance functions.
Taryn has over 20 years’ experience in both senior private practice and the corporate roles.
Darren Stephens
Chief People Officer
GradDip WorkRel
A highly experienced human resources professional, Darren held senior roles in both Westpac and St George banks before joining Heritage in 2016.
Darren has also worked with Sydney Water, in several roles within the New South Wales public sector, and has run his own management consultancy in Sydney.
After joining Heritage as Chief People Officer he moved into the role of Chief Transformation Officer in 2019 before taking on the People First Bank CPO in March 2023.
In May 2025, he was appointed to the People First Bank Foundation Board, reflecting his ongoing commitment to community development and engagement.
Andy Weir
Chief Technology & Transformation Officer
BA, BSc, MBA, GAICD
Before joining People’s Choice in 2022, Andy held executive roles with CBA, Bankwest and Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBOS) in technology, transformation, strategy, change management, integration and retail banking.
He is an experienced executive leader specialising in large-scale strategic and digital transformations.
Andy has also previously provided advisory services to organisations such as Suncorp, ABN Group and others in relation to their technology and transformation strategies.
Benn Wogan
Chief Operating Officer
BCom, LLB, MBA
Benn has more than 20 years' experience across corporate legal, governance and compliance, and operations roles.
Benn originally joined People First Bank's Executive team in 2017 as Heritage Bank's General Counsel and Company Secretary.
Before joining People First Bank, Benn spent nine years with PwC Australia in senior legal roles.
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