Former premier Mike Rann heading home to Adelaide
Former premier Mike Rann has long been absent from these shores but is now looking for somewhere to live in Adelaide.
SA News
Don't miss out on the headlines from SA News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Off the Record: Former premier John Olsen hot tip for Crows chairman
- How to get the most from your Advertiser digital subscription
After almost 10 years away former premier Mike Rann is heading back to Adelaide.
Rann and wife Sasha Carruozzo are currently searching for an apartment in Adelaide and intend to move back home next year.
The London-based Rann told Off the Record the plan was to spend half the year in South Australia and half at their place in Puglia Italy where the couple make olive oil.
“We left Adelaide at the end of 2012 so it’s time to come home,’’ he said.
“Sasha and I are currently apartment hunting but that is a bit hard right now given Covid travel restrictions.’’
Rann was SA’s third-longest serving premier, behind Thomas Playford and John Bannon, but was tapped on the shoulder and replaced in 2011 by Jay Weatherill.
Since then he has served as High Commissioner in London and as Australia’s ambassador to Italy, but these days works as a business consultant under the banner of the Rann Strategy Group.
He is also in the board of the non-profit the Climate Group and a visiting professor at Kings College, London.
Not that the 67-year-old is contemplating retirement.
“I guess the lockdown has shown me I can do most of what I do virtually,’’ he said.
“We are looking forward to spending more time with our family, including with our wonderful one year old grandson, and with our friends.’’
IN OTHER OFF THE RECORD NEWS …
Long-term Liberal fundraising director Maurice Henderson has jumped ship to become managing director of Adelaide 36ers owner Grant Kelley’s family company.
Henderson on Friday finished up his second stint as the Liberal Party South Australian division fundraising chief, a role he had held since mid-2016.
The job, as Henderson modestly described on his LinkedIn profile, was “funding winning elections”.
He also held the role from 2013-2016 but spent a few months in the unusually titled director advancement role at Adelaide University.
In an email to supporters on Friday, Henderson said he had accepted a position as managing director of Holdfast Assets, Kelley’s firm which owns the 36ers, vineyards, forests and other ventures.
“Grant is extremely supportive of the Liberal Party and, as part of my contract, Grant has specified that one of my tasks is to continue to assist the Liberal Party’s fundraising efforts,” Henderson’s email says.
He also has signed up as a Platinum member of FutureSA, the Liberal business networking forum.
“This means I will still be attending functions and events and continuing to solicit contributions and memberships,” Henderson says.
It is understood his role at Holdfast Assets will include public affairs and business development.
Kelley this year launched an ambitious public bid to replace Rob Cha pman as Adelaide Football Club chairman, which seems to have been thwarted by former premier John Olsen.