Chief Executive of Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd. (ANZ.AU), Mike Smith, said he will stay the course in his current role as he strives to turn Australia's third-largest lender by market value into a super-regional bank.

Mr. Smith on Friday dismissed rumours that he could become the next leader of troubled U.K. lender Barclays PLC (BCS) after its Chief Executive Robert Diamond was forced to step down after disclosures that officials at the bank sought to manipulate a global interest-rate benchmark.

Mr. Smith said ANZ remained "well positioned" to take advantage of any acquisition opportunities in Asia as the bank strives to become Australia's first internationally-focussed lender.

"I came here to articulate and execute a strategy of creating a super-regional bank," he told an Australia-China business forum in Sydney. "My job is not done here."

Write to Caroline Henshaw at caroline.henshaw@wsj.com

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