Dr Anna Breman has been appointed as the new Governor of the Reserve Bank, becoming the first woman to hold this key position.
“Dr Breman comes to New Zealand with an impressive blend of technical skills and organisational leadership experience,” Finance Minister Nicola Willis said.
Breman has been serving as a deputy governor of Sweden’s Riksbank, the country’s central bank, since 2019.
She earned a PhD in economics from the Stockholm School of Economics and previously worked as the group chief economist at Swedbank. She has also held positions at the Swedish Ministry of Finance and the World Bank and worked as an academic economist in the United States.
Breman was nominated for the position by the Reserve Bank’s board after an international search that reviewed 300 candidates.
Breman said she was “deeply honoured” to be appointed as governor and will be moving to New Zealand with her family.
“I also feel privileged to be welcomed to this country.”
“I’m still overwhelmed by the warmth and kindness that I’ve been shown during my time here.”
To ensure stability for New Zealand’s economy, Breman said the Reserve Bank would concentrate on its core mandate of maintaining price stability, prudential supervision, and a safe and efficient payment system.
She emphasised the importance of “transparency and openness”, noting that although the Reserve Bank is one of the most transparent globally, “there is still work to be done.”
Breman will begin her five-year term on December 1, succeeding acting Governor Christian Hawkesby.