Ai Group names new CEO

Former journalist and chief of staff to Alexander Downer, Innes Willox, has been appointed chief executive of the Australian Industry Group.

Mr Willox replaces from former Ai Group CEO Heather Ridout, who on Tuesday joined the board of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA).

Melbourne-based Mr Willox began his career as a journalist, rising to chief political correspondent and then chief of staff at The Age newspaper.

He then moved on to become manager of global affairs for Singapore Airlines before becoming chief of staff for the federal foreign affairs minster in 2004.

He served as Australian Consul General to Los Angeles from 2006 to 2008, at which point he joined Ai Group as its director of international and government arrangements.

"I will continue to strongly advocate policies that support the growth of industry in Australia while maintaining Ai Group's deeply held non-partisan values," Mr Willox said in a statement.

"This is a challenging time for industry and getting the productivity boosting policies right across the economy, including on workplace relations, skills, innovation, energy and taxation is fundamental to Australia's prosperity."

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