The European Central Bank is getting new leadership. Boris Vujčić, Croatia's long-serving central bank governor, will officially take over as ECB Vice-President on June 1, 2026, succeeding Spain's Luis de Guindos after his eight-year term ends May 31.
Vujčić is the first official from a post-2004 EU accession country to sit on the ECB's six-member Executive Board, which handles day-to-day operations at one of the world's most powerful central banks. He has led the Croatian National Bank since 2012 and is best known for guiding Croatia into the euro area in January 2023, making it the 20th member of the currency bloc.
The European Council formally appointed Vujčić on March 19, 2026, following a Eurogroup nomination process and European Parliament approval. Like de Guindos, he will serve a single eight-year non-renewable term.
De Guindos, who has served since June 2018, has advocated for the digital euro, suggesting a possible issuance in 2029. Vujčić has publicly backed the digital euro as a complement to cash, not a replacement. The digital euro project is in its preparation phase, having begun in late 2023, with a final decision on its launch pending.
Both officials emphasize that ECB interest rate decisions remain data-dependent, with inflation, growth, and employment figures guiding policy rather than any predetermined path. Vujčić's term will almost certainly see either the launch or shelving of the digital euro.