Arthur Sinodinos, a former chief adviser to John Howard, is set to become a senator after receiving the endorsement of the NSW Liberal Party.
Mr Sinodinos, whose appointment now requires the endorsement of the NSW parliament, will replace Helen Coonan, who has retired after 15 years in the upper house.
The move is expected to put pressure on Opposition Leader Tony Abbott to find Mr Sinodinos a frontbench position to maximise the use of his skills and experience.
NSW Liberals state director Mark Neeham on Tuesday praised Mr Sinodinos as “an exceptional candidate”.
Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Eric Abetz said the endorsement was welcome news.
“His strong work ethic, commitment to the Liberal cause and the Australian people are second to none,” Senator Abetz said in a statement on Tuesday.
Mr Sinodinos, 54, is currently a regional general manager at National Australia Bank and formerly worked as an investment banking director for Goldman Sachs JB Were.
The veteran finance and treasury department official was Mr Howard’s chief of staff from 1997 to 2006, through most of his prime ministership, and was recognised for his public service with an Order of Australia in 2008.
He is currently president of the NSW Liberals.
Mr Howard has said of Mr Sinodinos that he “has a rare combination of high intelligence, intimate knowledge of the political system at the highest level, and a career of having made his own way because of his ability”.
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