Simon Birmingham’s post-politics job revealed as Christmas reshuffle looms

ANZ has appointed former senior Liberal Simon Birmingham as its head of Asia Pacific engagement and chair of its South Australian branch as a pre-Christmas shadow cabinet reshuffle that will name his replacement on the opposition frontbench firms.

Birmingham’s appointment is aimed at helping the bank accelerate the growth of its institutional division and assert dominance in the Asia region.

Simon Birmingham delivered his valedictory speech to the Senate last week.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

In a statement on Thursday, ANZ said Birmingham would report to institutional group executive Mark Whelan and work closely with chief executive Shayne Elliott when he joins the bank on February 3.

“Simon Birmingham has had a distinguished career as a senator for South Australia and Australian cabinet minister,” 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.”

Birmingham’s new role with ANZ does not break any post-parliamentary career rules and does not involve lobbying. Instead, it will focus on driving commercial investment between Australia and Asia, where ANZ has the largest presence of any Australian bank.

Liberal deputy leader Sussan Ley, home affairs spokesman James Paterson and immigration spokesman Dan Tehan are the three frontrunners to replace Birmingham in the foreign affairs portfolio, while finance spokeswoman Jane Hume – although well regarded – is out of the running because of the looming election.

One plan floated by Coalition MPs, who asked not to be named so they could speak freely, was for either Paterson or Tehan to combine their current portfolios of home affairs and immigration – as Labor has done with Home Affairs minister Tony Burke – and for the other to take on the role of foreign affairs spokesman.

The portfolio is seen as better suited to a senator, given the amount of overseas travel involved, which would place Paterson in the box seat.

But Victorian senator Paterson is a key ally of Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and is widely regarded as having done an excellent job in his domestic portfolio, which will continue to be a key point of difference with Labor headed into the election.

Fellow Victorian Tehan, as a former trade minister and former diplomat, has the credentials to perform well in the role though he is in the lower house and also occupies an important domestic portfolio.

Ley has told colleagues she does not want the portfolio but as deputy she is within her rights to ask for it and there is a reasonable chance Dutton could tap her take the job with the election imminent.

At ANZ, Birmingham will be responsible for helping facilitate outbound and inbound investment between Australia – particularly in his home state of South Australia – and Asia.

ANZ believes Birmingham’s background as trade minister and foreign affairs spokesman, as well as his work with South Australia’s key economic sectors, including in the wine, tourism and defence industries, reflect the bank’s customer profile, and would benefit from deepening trade investments.

It will also enable the blue bank to encroach into Westpac’s territory in the state, where subsidiary St George has a significant market share.

“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 flows into Australia,” Birmingham said in a statement.

“South Australia’s economy increasingly demonstrates confidence and momentum.”

Jarden analyst Jeff Cai said Birmingham’s appointment reflects ANZ’s priority of growing its institutional division across the region.

“It’s less so about lending because they have tried to derisk and reduce their lending exposure, [while] providing Australian companies with access to Asia, and building their Asian multicorporate customer base and providing them with transaction banking capabilities.”

”ANZ also has a dual platform strategy [its new digital apps ANZ Plus for retail customers and ANZ Transactive for commercial clients]. Providing that transaction capability for institutional clients, and then providing a footpath to engage those customers a lot more with making their deposits and eventually growing their lending and markets business, is important for the bank,” he said.

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