He will serve as head of APAC engagement and SA chairman
ANZ has named former senator and cabinet minister Simon Birmingham (pictured above) as its new head of Asia Pacific engagement and chairman for South Australia.
Birmingham will step down from the Senate to join ANZ in February 2025. He will be based in Adelaide, South Australia, will report to ANZ institutional head Mark Whelan, and will work closely with chief executive Shayne Elliott.
Birmingham has been a senator for South Australia since 2007 and has held several ministerial roles, including trade, tourism and investment, finance, and shadow foreign affairs. As trade minister, he played a pivotal role in negotiating key agreements such as the ASEAN-centred Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and bilateral trade deals with Indonesia, Singapore, and Hong Kong.
Prior to his political career, Birmingham worked across industries such as wine, tourism, and hospitality. He holds a master of business administration from the University of Adelaide.
In his Asia Pacific role at ANZ, Birmingham will focus on strengthening trade relationships and capital flows, collaborating with customers, governments, and investors across the region. As chairman for South Australia, he will help drive growth across ANZ’s institutional, commercial, and retail businesses within the state.
Shadow foreign affairs minister Simon Birmingham has revealed his next role in the private sector after he announced he will leave politics at the next election.https://t.co/mqlPnxJqEh
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) December 5, 2024
“Simon Birmingham has had a distinguished career as a senator for South Australia and Australian cabinet minister, including as minister for trade, tourism and investment, and minister for finance,” Elliott said. “His significant experience and knowledge of trade, investment and the economies and governments of the Asia Pacific, will help ANZ and our customers to create opportunities across the region.”
Elliott also noted Birmingham’s strong ties to South Australia and his familiarity with the state’s major industries, including agriculture, tourism, defence, and education.
“Since opening our first South Australian branch in Glenelg in 1837, ANZ and our customers have played a significant role in the state’s economy,” he said. “His knowledge of and commitment to his home state will allow us to deepen our support for our South Australian customers and the state’s economy. His understanding of many of the state’s key industries – such as agriculture, tourism, defence, and education – will help drive opportunities for our South Australian customers, including those exporting to the world.”
Commenting on his appointment, Birmingham described his new role as an opportunity to further ANZ’s commitment to trade and investment in the Asia Pacific.
“ANZ has long played a strong role in promoting trade and capital flows throughout the Asia Pacific, facilitating the growth of Australian companies overseas and investment into Australia,” he said. “South Australia’s economy increasingly demonstrates confidence and momentum, and I look forward to working with ANZ’s customers and leadership to support further growth.”
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