M. Jan SMETS

Born in Ghent (Belgium) 02.01.1951

Present positions

Director of the National Bank of Belgium

Member of the Committee of the Protection Fund for Deposits and 
Financial instruments

Member of the Committee of the Securities Regulation Fund

Member of the Board of Directors of the National Accounts Institute

Vice-Chairman of the Superior Employment Council

Member of the Committee for Ageing  (High Council of Finance)

Alternate Director of the Bank for International Settlements (Basle)

Member of the Economic Policy Committee of the OECD

Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Financial Forum

Member of the Financial Stability Committee

Administrator of the Belgian Institute for Public Finances

Member of the Board of Directors of the International Journal of Central Banking

Chairman of the Board of Directors at EHSAL (European College of Brussels)

Career

University studies : degree in economics, University of Ghent (1972)

1972-1973 : trainee at Generale Bank/Générale de Banque

1973-1988 : member of the Research Department of the National Bank of Belgium

1982-1988 : expert on the “Inflation” and “Competitiveness” committees of the Central Economic Council

1983-1988 : Belgian expert in the EC Working Party on Monetary Policy working on behalf of the Committee of Governors of the Central Banks of the Member States of the EC

1986-1992 : chairman of the Index Committee

1988-1991 : Deputy chef de cabinet of Deputy Prime Minister J.L. Dehaene,
                  responsible for general policy matters

1991-1992 : chef de cabinet (socio-economic cabinet) of Prime Minister W. Martens

1992-1994 : chef de cabinet (socio-economic cabinet) of Prime Minister J.L. Dehaene

1994-1999 : head of the Research Department of the National Bank of Belgium

1995-1996 : chairman of the working party on "Diagnostics and challenges 
                  for Belgian banks" appointed by the Minister of Finance.

1999-2002:  General Commissioner for the euro

Publications, mostly in the fields of monetary policy, banking systems, employment and competitiveness