Hubert Ansiaux
Encyclopedia
Hubert Ansiaux was a governor of the National Bank of Belgium
(NBB) from 1957 until 1971.
After he graduated from the École de Commerce Solvay, he joined the National Bank of Belgium in 1935. Before the outbreak of World War II
, he accompanied the evacuation of the NBB’s last consignment of assets to England, thereby safeguarding the assets of the NBB from the Nazis.
In 1941 Hubert Ansiaux left for the United States of America, and in the same year he was appointed as director in London
, where he was to succeed Camille Gutt
. In London, he was in charge of the practical management of the Bank in London, together with Adolphe Baudewyns. After the war, he was in charge of the NBB's Foreign Affairs department and he was closely involved in the post-war currency reform (Operation Gutt).
Hubert Ansiaux supported the European integration, and from 1947 up to 1955 he was president of the Intra-European Payments Committee which had been created within the Organisation for European Economic Cooperation
and served on the board of directors of the European Payments Union
from 1950 up to 1955.
From 1944 to 1954 he worked as deputy administrator at the Bank for International Settlements
, and in 1946 he became administrator of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
. Hubert Ansiaux was involved in setting up the International Monetary Fund
where he would later advocate the creation of the special drawing rights.
Ansiaux was appointed as vice-governor of the NBB in 1954, and as its governor in 1957. He held the position of central banker during the sixties, until the collapse of the Bretton Woods system
in 1971.
As governor of the NBB Ansiaux continued to play a leading role in European monetary cooperation. In 1967 he was appointed as president of the Committee of Governors of the Central Banks of the Member States of the EEC
. In 1970 he contributed to the Werner Report with the first plans for Economic and Monetary Union
. Ansiaux resigned, after a conflict with the government, as governor of the NBB in 1971.
National Bank of Belgium
The National Bank of Belgium has been the central bank of Belgium since 1850...
(NBB) from 1957 until 1971.
After he graduated from the École de Commerce Solvay, he joined the National Bank of Belgium in 1935. Before the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he accompanied the evacuation of the NBB’s last consignment of assets to England, thereby safeguarding the assets of the NBB from the Nazis.
In 1941 Hubert Ansiaux left for the United States of America, and in the same year he was appointed as director in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, where he was to succeed Camille Gutt
Camille Gutt
Camille Gutt , born Camille Guttenstein, was a Belgian economist, politician, and industrialist. He served as the first Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund from 6 May 1946 to 5 May 1951...
. In London, he was in charge of the practical management of the Bank in London, together with Adolphe Baudewyns. After the war, he was in charge of the NBB's Foreign Affairs department and he was closely involved in the post-war currency reform (Operation Gutt).
Hubert Ansiaux supported the European integration, and from 1947 up to 1955 he was president of the Intra-European Payments Committee which had been created within the Organisation for European Economic Cooperation
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development is an international economic organisation of 34 countries founded in 1961 to stimulate economic progress and world trade...
and served on the board of directors of the European Payments Union
European Payments Union
The European Payments Union was an organization in existence from July 1950, until December 1958, when it was replaced by the European Monetary Agreement.With the end of World War II, economic depression struck Europe...
from 1950 up to 1955.
From 1944 to 1954 he worked as deputy administrator at the Bank for International Settlements
Bank for International Settlements
The Bank for International Settlements is an intergovernmental organization of central banks which "fosters international monetary and financial cooperation and serves as a bank for central banks." It is not accountable to any national government...
, and in 1946 he became administrator of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development is one of five institutions that compose the World Bank Group. The IBRD is an international organization whose original mission was to finance the reconstruction of nations devastated by World War II. Now, its mission has expanded to fight...
. Hubert Ansiaux was involved in setting up the International Monetary Fund
International Monetary Fund
The International Monetary Fund is an organization of 187 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world...
where he would later advocate the creation of the special drawing rights.
Ansiaux was appointed as vice-governor of the NBB in 1954, and as its governor in 1957. He held the position of central banker during the sixties, until the collapse of the Bretton Woods system
Bretton Woods system
The Bretton Woods system of monetary management established the rules for commercial and financial relations among the world's major industrial states in the mid 20th century...
in 1971.
As governor of the NBB Ansiaux continued to play a leading role in European monetary cooperation. In 1967 he was appointed as president of the Committee of Governors of the Central Banks of the Member States of the EEC
European Economic Community
The European Economic Community The European Economic Community (EEC) The European Economic Community (EEC) (also known as the Common Market in the English-speaking world, renamed the European Community (EC) in 1993The information in this article primarily covers the EEC's time as an independent...
. In 1970 he contributed to the Werner Report with the first plans for Economic and Monetary Union
Economic and monetary union
An economic and monetary union is a type of trade bloc which is composed of an economic union with a monetary union. It is to be distinguished from a mere monetary union , which does not involve a common market. This is the fifth stage of economic integration...
. Ansiaux resigned, after a conflict with the government, as governor of the NBB in 1971.
Sources
- Letter from Hubert Ansiaux to Paul van Zeeland (Brussels, 27 March 1950)
- Organization for European Economic Cooperation, International Organization, Vol. 4, No. 3 (Aug., 1950), pp. 520–528
- België en zijn buitlandse politiek 1830 - 1990, Van Halewyck • 1998 • ISBN 9056171364