Following the Czech elections, Mr Vlastimil Tlustý has been appointed Minister of Finance. He thus succeeds Mr Bohuslav Sobotka as Governor of the Bank.

Mr Tlustý is a graduate of the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Agriculture in Prague and also holds postgraduate qualifications from the Research Institute of Agricultural Technology in Prague.

Mr Tlustý, 51 years of age, has been a Member of the Czech Parliament since 1992.  He has served as Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Parliament's Budgetary Committee and, in 1991 92, was Deputy Minister of Agriculture.