Jean-Claude Brou
Jean-Claude Kassi Brou | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1953 Ivory Coast |
| Occupation(s) | Economist, politician |
| Years active | 1981–present |
| Known for | Governor of the Central Bank of West African States; President of the ECOWAS Commission; Minister of Industry and Mines of Ivory Coast |
Jean-Claude Kassi Brou (born 1953) is an economist and politician from Ivory Coast, currently holding the position of governor at the Central Bank of West African States since 3 July 2022. He served as the president of the Economic Community of West African States Commission from 2018 until 2022 and was Ivory Coast's Minister of Industry and Mines from November 2012 to March 2018.
Life
Brou completed his economics degree at the National University of Ivory Coast in 1976. He pursued further studies at the University of Cincinnati, where he earned a master's degree in economics in 1979, followed by an MBA in finance in 1980, and a PhD in economics in 1982. Between 1981 and 1982, he taught economics at the same university before joining the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as an economist in 1982. His work with the IMF involved assignments across various African nations, including serving as the IMF's resident representative in Senegal from 1990 to 1991.
After returning to Ivory Coast, Brou acted as Economic and Financial Advisor to the Prime Minister from 1991 to 1995, then as Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Daniel Kablan Duncan until 1999. During this timeframe, he headed the privatization committee responsible for managing the divestiture of seventy state-owned enterprises. From 2000 through 2008, he was employed by the Central Bank of West African States. Later, between 2010 and 2012, Brou represented the World Bank in Chad. In November 2012, under President Alassane Ouattara, he was appointed Minister of Industry and Mines.
In December 2017, Ivory Coast was designated to hold the ECOWAS Commission presidency, with Brou selected for a four-year term beginning in March 2018, succeeding Marcel Alain de Souza. He continued his ministerial role until assuming leadership of ECOWAS.
In June 2022, Brou was named governor of the BCEAO (Central Bank of West African States).
He is married and has two children.