Mugur Isarescu, world's longest serving central bank governor

Governor of the National Bank of Romania (BNR) Mugur Isarescu, 60, has served as governor for 19 years, setting the world record for the Longest Serving Central Bank Governor, the World Records Academy reported on Thursday.

As BNR governor, Isarescu has coordinated Romania's economic policy since 1990, being considered by some the 'hidden' prime minister of the country.

Many credit the National Bank Isarescu's team for saving Romania's economy from a Bulgarian-type collapse, raising the national gold and Euro reserves beyond needs, cutting down inflation to single-digit figures and introducing the New Leu (RON), the Academy informs in a press release.

He is the only Romanian politician that is a member of the Trilateral Commission. He is also a member of the Club of Rome.

He was the prime minister of Romania between December 1999 and November 2000.

Although he served only one year as prime minister, Isarescu is considered to have started the reform process, continued later by Adrian Nastase and Calin Popescu-Tariceanu.

In 1999, Mugur Isarescu, as prime minister, opened negotiations with the European Union, a process concluded in late 2004.

Mugur Isarescu is the author of numerous papers, articles and books on economics and winner of a number of prestigious awards including "Central Banker of the Year" (The Banker, 2002) and the "Economic Performance Award" (Top Business.)

Isarescu holds a PhD in Economics from the Academy of Economics, Bucharest, Romania awarded for a thesis on exchange rate policies.

The World Records Academy is the leading international organisation that certifies world records (based on the number of records listed on website, new records listed each year and the worldwide availability of each new world record).

Agerpres