Nov 26 (Reuters) - Westpac Banking Corp WBC.AX :
* GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (CEO) BRIAN HARTZER WILL BE STEPPING DOWN AS CEO
* CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER PETER KING TAKING OVER AS ACTING CEO
* CURRENT CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER GARY THURSBY WILL ACT AS CFO.
* LINDSAY MAXSTED CONFIRMED HE WILL BRING FORWARD HIS RETIREMENT AS CHAIRMAN TO FIRST HALF OF 2020
* BOARD ACCEPTS GRAVITY OF ISSUES RAISED BY AUSTRAC
* BOARD HAS ASKED PETER TO IMPLEMENT WESTPAC RESPONSE PLAN AND TO CONTINUE TO EXECUTE GROUP'S BROADER STRATEGY