The Bank of Sydney has announced the appointment of a new director, Mr Lex Bartlem OAM.

Formerly Australia’s Ambassador to Lebanon, Mr Bartlem was also a senior officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Delighted to have the new director on board, chairman of the bank Dr Nicholas Pappas said: “His expertise will be an asset to the Bank of Sydney’s board. He has all the attributes that we sought during the thorough recruitment process for a new director.”

The Bank of Sydney has its sights set on becoming Australia’s only ‘relationship’ bank, placing an emphasis on developing personal relationships with its customers and offering them a premium service.

Mr Bartlem has served a number of communities abroad, including Bali, where he was awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for his services to victims and their families following the Bali bombing in 2002.

According to CEO Ms Julie Elliott, Mr Bartlem’s background and experience aligns with the bank’s focus and will assist the team in driving its strategy to the various community groups that the bank serves in Australia.

“I am delighted to join Bank of Sydney as a director, bringing my knowledge of our communities and the economic climate, which will open doors for new partnerships,” said Mr Bartlem.

“The bank has a remarkable heritage and strong customer base, which I look forward to developing and growing.”