Guy Debelle's shock exit from Reserve Bank to pursue climate change passion in hiring coup for billionaire Andrew Forrest

In what's come as a shock to many observers, Reserve Bank deputy governor Guy Debelle has announced he's quitting to join Fortescue Future Industries.

The appointment is a coup for billionaire Andrew Forrest who will use Dr Debelle as a top executive in Fortescue's fast growing green energy arm.

I spoke on ABC NewsRadio shortly after the Reserve Bank broke the news.

I also spoke with UTS chief economist Professor Tim Harcourt who thinks Guy Debelle remains a chance to succeed Philip Lowe as RBA governor once he effects climate change action in the corporate world.

I spoke with Guy Debelle ten years after the Global Financial Crisis where he told me Australia was "standing on the edge of an abyss".