Banking and insurance group ING has appointed Canadian John Hele to take over from CFO Cees Maas who will leave in April. The announcement was made during the presentation of ING’s 2006 earnings.

The bank posted net profit of almost €7.7bn, up on the 2005 figure of €7.2 bn. Earnings growth was sharpest at the group’s insurance activities. ING’s internet bank ING Direct added 587,000 new customers in the fourth-quarter.