Bausili to Lead Argentina’s Central Bank

Santiago Bausili is set to become the governor of Argentina’s central bank after Javier Milei’s presidential inauguration on December 10.

This decision comes from sources familiar with the matter.

Bausili, a respected economist, previously served as the undersecretary of finance and later as the finance secretary under Mauricio Macri’s administration.

His experience includes over a decade at JPMorgan, focusing on capital markets and derivatives marketing in Argentina, Chile, and Peru.

He later joined Deutsche Bank as a debt origination director, showcasing his expertise in international finance.

Bausili’s appointment creates a formidable team of mainstream conservative economists. He will work alongside the market-friendly incoming Economy Minister, Luis Caputo.

This partnership aims to balance Milei’s libertarian policies.

During his campaign, Milei pledged to eventually dissolve the central bank and implement dollarization to combat inflation.

However, he has since taken a more pragmatic stance, prioritizing reducing fiscal deficits.

Bausili and Caputo share a history beyond government roles, co-founding the consultancy firm Bunker and working together at Anker.

This collaboration suggests a strong economic team under Milei’s presidency. Bausili’s appointment was announced after a key meeting at the Libertador Hotel.

This meeting included Milei, Caputo, and Federico Furiase, another future member of the economic team.

Bausili’s upcoming role is pivotal in navigating Argentina’s economy.

His past support for a fiscal moratorium and minimal intervention in the foreign exchange market aligns with Milei’s vision.

These views, especially relevant during IMF negotiations in 2019, will guide his leadership at the central bank during a critical economic period.