Jean-Claude Kassi Brou, born on February 1st, 1953, in Côte d’Ivoire, is the Governor of the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO).
Jean-Claude Kassi Brou earned a master’s degree in economics from Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Côte d’Ivoire in 1976. He continued his studies at the University of Cincinnati, in the United States, earning a master’s degree in economics in 1979, an MBA in finance in 1980, and a PhD in economics in 1982.
In 1982, he joined the International Monetary Fund (IMF), where he held various positions, including Chief Economist for Guinea-Bissau, Togo, Cape Verde, and Senegal, before becoming Resident Representative in the Republic of Senegal in 1990.
In 1991, Jean-Claude Kassi Brou became Economic and Financial Advisor to the Prime Minister of Côte d’Ivoire, a position he held until 1995. From 1996 to 1999, he held a number of positions of responsibility, including Director of the Prime Minister’s Cabinet and Chairperson of the National Investment Committee.
In August 2000, Jean-Claude Kassi Brou joined the Central Bank as Director of International Relations until 2003, then Director of Research from 2003 to 2006. In 2006, he joined the senior management team of the BCEAO, successively holding the positions
of Director of Economic Studies and Currency from 2006 to 2007, then Controller General and subsequently Special Advisor to the Governor from 2007 to 2008.
In 2009, Jean-Claude Kassi Brou became Special Advisor to the Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo in charge of macroeconomics, private sector development and public enterprise reform.
He joined the World Bank the following year as World Bank Resident Representative in Chad.
In 2012, he was called to serve his country as Minister of Industry and Mines of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire.
In March 2018, he was elected President of the ECOWAS Commission, a position he held until 2022, when he was appointed Governor of the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) by the Conference of WAMU Heads of State and Government. He was sworn in at BCEAO headquarters on July 8, 2022.
Jean-Claude Kassi Brou is fluent in French, English, Portuguese, and Spanish. He is married and a father of two.