Legal vet to join from prominent firm
Commonwealth Bank has announced the appointment of Karen O’Flynn (pictured above) as group general counsel and group executive legal and group secretariat, effective Sept. 1. In this role, O’Flynn will be a member of CBA’s executive leadership team.
O’Flynn, currently partner and executive chair at Clayton Utz, will succeed Carmel Mulhern, who has served in the role for three and a half years. Mulhern will be leaving the bank on Aug. 31 to pursue the next phase of her career as an executive director.
“Carmel has been a valued member of the bank’s executive leadership team, with a strong focus on our customers and our people,” said Matt Comyn, CEO of CBA. “During her time with CBA, she has played an important role in ensuring the fair and efficient resolution of the group’s legal matters, as well as strengthening our relationships with key stakeholders. Under Carmel’s leadership, CBA’s corporate governance processes have also been simplified to support the effectiveness of the board. We thank Carmel for her contribution to CBA and wish her all the best for the future.”
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O'Flynn is a prominent legal practitioner and commercial litigator, both nationally and internationally. With 28 years of experience as a partner at Clayton Utz, O’Flynn has held various leadership positions, including serving as the chair of the Clayton Utz board since 2020. She is also a dedicated advocate for gender equality, actively participating in Clayton Utz's Diversity Council and joining Chief Executive Women in 2021.
“Karen brings a breadth of experience in financial services over her legal career, including supporting the bank through the Royal Commission,” Comyn said. “The leadership team and I look forward to welcoming Karen to CBA.”
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