ECB adopts opinion on appointment of its future Vice-President
The Governing Council of the European Central Bank (ECB) has adopted an opinion on a recommendation from the Council of the European Union on the appointment of the Vice-President of the ECB.
The Governing Council had no objection to the proposed candidate, Boris Vujčić, who is a person of recognised standing and professional experience in monetary policy or banking matters as required by Article 283(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. Mr Vujčić currently serves as the Governor of Hrvatska narodna banka.
Following the Governing Council’s opinion and an opinion of the European Parliament, the new Vice-President of the ECB will be appointed by the European Council. The Governing Council’s opinion, which will be published shortly in the Official Journal of the European Union, will be made available on the ECB’s website in all official EU languages.
Mr Vujčić will serve a non-renewable eight-year term, with effect from 1 June 2026. He succeeds Luis de Guindos, whose term as Vice-President of the ECB ends on 31 May 2026.
Andreas Brandstetter reappointed as president of Insurance Europe; Sandro Panizza elected vice-president
Insurance Europe’s general assembly has unanimously voted to extend the mandate of Andreas Brandstetter as president for a further three years. The mandate of Brandstetter, who is chair and CEO of UNIQA Group, had been due to expire in June 2021.
Commenting on his reinstatement, Brandstetter said: “I am deeply honoured to have been asked to continue in my role as president of Insurance Europe. Society faces many challenges and our industry has a key role to play. We also face a busy legislative agenda on a range of topics where insurers will be able to contribute, including climate change, the digital agenda and the review of Solvency II. I therefore look forward to continuing to ensure our voice is heard in these important discussions.”
At the same time, the assembly elected Sandro Panizza, group chief insurance & investment officer at Generali Group, as vice-president of Insurance Europe.
Panizza joined Generali Group in 2013 as group chief risk officer. Before taking this position, he was managing director and CFO of INA Assitalia from 2010, and prior to that had been managing director and CFO of Alleanza Assicurazioni from 2004.
Commenting on his appointment, Panizza said: “I am delighted to have been elected to represent our industry. Insurers play such an important role in delivering positive change and protecting our society, both as major long-term investors and as bearers of financial risk. I therefore look forward to working with my colleagues to represent our industry during my mandate as vice-president.”
Ricardo Mourinho Félix appointed as Vice-President of the EIB
Ricardo Mourinho Félix is the new Vice-President and Member of the Management Committee of the European Investment Bank (EIB). He takes up his duties on 16 October, succeeding Emma Navarro, whose mandate ends today.
The EIB’s Board of Governors appointed Mr Félix, a Portuguese citizen, on a proposal from the Minister of Finance of Portugal and with the agreement of the shareholder constituency formed by Spain and Portugal.
Upon joining the EIB, Mr Félix stated: “I am extremely motivated and honoured to join the EIB, the lending arm of the European Union and the world’s largest multilateral provider of finance for climate action. There is no better time to be part of such a key organisation, whose core mission is to support the European economy, create jobs, promote inclusive and sustainable growth and foster equality to continue improving the lives of our citizens. The EIB is at the forefront of addressing all the major challenges we are facing. These range from fostering a green transition and the implementation of the European Green Deal to helping viable companies affected by the COVID-19 pandemic; from investing in digitalisation and innovation to ensuring access to public infrastructure and services. All of these are major issues to be tackled right now, and the EIB is best placed to play a pivotal role in providing the funding for investments and the expertise needed to succeed. This is a time for action, with close coordination between all European institutions. This is the time for Europe.”
Prior to his appointment as EIB Vice-President, Mr Félix held various high-ranking positions in the public sector in Portugal. He was the Deputy Minister of Finance and Secretary of State for Finance of Portugal between 2017 and 2020 and Deputy Minister of Finance and Secretary of State for the Treasury and Finance between 2015 and 2017. Before joining the Portuguese Government, he worked as Head of Division for Portuguese Economy Analysis at Banco de Portugal.
Born in Setúbal in the south of the country in 1974, Mr Félix obtained a master’s degree in Economics from the NOVA School of Business and Economics at the Universidade Nova de Lisboa and a degree in Economics from the ISEG Lisbon School of Economics and Management at the Universidade de Lisboa.
The Management Committee is the EIB’s permanent collegiate executive body, consisting of a President and eight Vice-Presidents. The members of the Management Committee are appointed by the Board of Governors – the economy and finance ministers of the 27 EU Member States.
Under the authority of Werner Hoyer, President of the EIB, the Management Committee collectively oversees the day-to-day running of the EIB as well as preparing and ensuring the implementation of the Board of Directors’ decisions, notably regarding borrowing and lending operations.
Teresa Czerwińska appointed Vice-President of the European Investment Bank
Teresa Czerwińska is the new Vice-President and Member of the Management Committee of the European Investment Bank (EIB). She will take up her duties on the 1st of March.
The EIB’s Board of Governors appointed Mrs Czerwińska, a Polish national, on a proposal from the Finance Minister of the Republic of Poland.
Upon joining the EIB, Teresa Czerwińska said: “I am delighted and deeply honoured to join the bank of the European Union at a pivotal time for this institution. The EIB fosters long-term investments in four well-known priority areas – infrastructure, climate and environment, innovation and small and medium-sized businesses. It thus contributes to the prosperity, competitiveness and balanced territorial development of countries and regions in Europe and beyond. The EIB has also a huge role to play in facilitating the implementation of the European Green Deal. All these tasks are of colossal importance now – I am extremely happy to be a part for this great endeavour and work with the EIB team for the success and well-being of our citizens.”
Prior to becoming EIB Vice-President, Mrs Czerwińska was a member of the board of the National Bank of Poland since June 2019. Between January 2018 and June 2019, she was Minister of Finance of the Republic of Poland. In this role, she was also a Governor of the European Investment Bank. Before that, she held the position of Undersecretary of State responsible for the state budget at the Ministry of Finance (from June 2017 to January 2018) and, before that, at the Ministry of Science and Higher Education (December 2015 to June 2017) in Poland.
Teresa Czerwińska is a Professor of Economics at the Warsaw University. She specialises in finances and risk management.
The Management Committee is the EIB’s permanent collegiate executive body, consisting of a President and eight Vice-Presidents. The Board of Governors – the Finance Ministers of the 27 EU Member States – appoints the members of the Management Committee.
Under the authority of Werner Hoyer, President of the EIB, the Management Committee collectively oversees the day-to-day running of the EIB as well as preparing and ensuring the implementation of the Board of Directors’ decisions.