By Chris Zappone
Popular economist and commentator Saul Eslake has taken up the job as top economist for Bank of America Merrill Lynch, two years after leaving ANZ Bank.
Mr Eslake stepped down as chief economist at ANZ in August 2009, after 14 years in the role, which made him a household name in economics commentary.
Back in the game ... Saul Eslake.Credit: Jessica Shapiro
“Until a few weeks ago I hadn’t thought about returning to work in the financial markets having left them just over two years ago.” But the offer put to him by Bank of America Merrill Lynch had been too good to pass by, said Mr Eslake. “I’m looking forward to it.”
The announcement comes as a surprise after Mr Eslake’s departure from ANZ which was interpreted at the time as the economist transitioning out of the bank economist profession.
The role at Merrill Lynch was left open by economist John Rothfield who left in June to return to a posting in the US. Mr Eslake, 53, will begin work in December, based in Melbourne. He will report to Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s head of Australian research Andrew Kearnan.
Saul Eslake will continue to work as program director at the independent policy think tank Grattan Institute. Mr Eslake also contributes to Fairfax-owned The Age. Fairfax is publisher of this site.
czappone@fairfax.com.au
This reporter is on Twitter: @chrizap