Kosovo picks new head of central bank

Kosovo’s parliament picked Gani Gerguri on Friday to head the country’s central bank. Pending presidential approval Gerguri, already acting governor, will take the helm permanently until the scheduled mandate of former governor Hashim Rexhepi, expires in March 2013.

Kosovo has adopted the euro as its currency, and the central bank monitors eight commercial banks, pension funds, insurance and microfinance companies.

Born in 1960, Gerguri had held various positions at the Central Bank since 2000. Educated in Kosovo and abroad, Gerguri has experience in financial economics, macroeconomics, payments systems and corporate governance. Gerguri, also the bank’s former deputy head, will be eligible for fresh five-year term in 2013.

Until now, the central bank governor has also been Kosovo’s representative at the International Monetary Fund, but it is not yet known if the government of Prime Minister Hashim Thaci will pick Gerguri to fill that role.

ECIKS / Reuters