New Reserve Bank Governor announced

Dr Anna Breman has been appointed as the new Governor of New Zealand’s Reserve Bank, making history as the first woman to hold the role.

She will begin her five-year term on 1 December, taking over from acting Governor Christian Hawkesby.

Dr Breman comes from Sweden, where she has been Deputy Governor of the Riksbank, Sweden’s central bank, since 2019. She has also worked at the Swedish Ministry of Finance, the World Bank, and as an academic economist in the United States. Finance Minister Nicola Willis said she brings “an impressive blend of technical skills and organisational leadership experience.”

Breman holds a PhD in economics from the Stockholm School of Economics and was previously chief economist at Swedbank, one of Sweden’s largest banks. Her appointment followed an international search where 300 candidates were considered.

Speaking at the announcement, Breman said she was “deeply honoured” to take on the position and grateful for the warm welcome she and her family have received in New Zealand. She described the Reserve Bank as “an excellent institution” and said its focus would remain on keeping prices stable, supervising banks, and ensuring payments are safe and efficient.

She also spoke about the importance of “transparency and openness,” adding that while the Reserve Bank is already one of the most transparent in the world, “there is still work to be done.”

Her appointment comes after a turbulent time for the Reserve Bank. Earlier this year, former Governor Adrian Orr resigned suddenly following a funding dispute, and chairperson Neil Quigley also stepped down after criticism of how Orr’s resignation was handled.

Both the Government and the Opposition welcomed Breman’s appointment. Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Labour’s finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds agreed that her experience would be valuable as New Zealand faces economic challenges in an uncertain global environment.