Otmar Issing | Keynote Speaker

Professor Otmar Issing is one of Europe’s most respected economists and central banking experts. His career spans academia, economic policy and senior positions at both the Deutsche Bundesbank and the European Central Bank, giving him extensive experience of the forces shaping European and global financial markets.

Before moving into central banking, Issing spent more than three decades in academia. He held chairs in economics at the universities of Erlangen-Nuremberg and Würzburg and developed particular expertise in monetary theory, monetary policy and international economics.

From 1988 to 1990, he served on the German Council of Economic Experts, advising on the assessment of the country’s overall economic development. In 1990, he joined the Board of the Deutsche Bundesbank and became its Chief Economist, a role he held until 1998.

From the Bundesbank to the European Central Bank

In 1998, Otmar Issing became a founding member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank. As the ECB’s first Chief Economist, he was responsible for the Directorates General Economics and Research until leaving the Board in 2006.

His work placed him at the heart of the development of the ECB’s monetary policy strategy during the introduction and early years of the euro. He played a significant role in shaping the framework used to pursue price stability across the euro area, making him an important figure in the history of European monetary policy.

The experience gave Issing an unusual perspective on the relationship between central bank independence, inflation, currency stability, political decision-making and financial markets. His knowledge extends beyond economic theory to the practical challenges faced by policymakers when responding to uncertainty and major shifts in the global economy.

Following his time at the ECB, Issing continued to contribute to debate around financial and economic affairs. In 2008, German Chancellor Angela Merkel appointed him to lead an advisory group examining reforms to the international financial architecture. He was also a member of the European Commission’s High-Level Group on financial supervision chaired by Jacques de Larosière.

Otmar Issing as a Keynote Speaker

As a keynote speaker, Otmar Issing brings an insider’s understanding of central banks, monetary policy and the European economy to business and financial audiences.

His presentations can explore the euro, inflation, price stability, financial markets, central bank independence and the challenges facing the European Union. He can also examine how political and economic developments influence monetary policy, business confidence and the wider global economy.

For event organisers looking for keynote speakers with genuine experience at the highest level of European economic policymaking, Issing offers a perspective shaped by both academic research and practical leadership. Rather than commenting on monetary policy solely from the outside, he helped shape the policies and institutions at the centre of European monetary union.

His experience makes him particularly relevant for conferences and events focused on finance, economics, banking, European affairs, international markets and global trends.

Economic Policy, the Euro and Price Stability

A central theme throughout Issing’s career has been the importance of credible monetary policy and price stability. His work at the Bundesbank and European Central Bank placed him at the centre of discussions about how central banks should respond to inflation, financial uncertainty and changing economic conditions.

He has continued to write and speak about the role of independent central banks and the risks they face when their responsibilities extend beyond their core monetary mandate. His expertise gives audiences a deeper understanding of how decisions on interest rates, inflation and currency policy can affect businesses, financial markets and the wider economy.

Issing is also the author of numerous academic articles and books. His best-known English-language book, The Birth of the Euro, was published by Cambridge University Press in 2008. It provides an insider account of the development of the single European currency and the economic and political questions surrounding its creation.

With experience spanning academia, the Bundesbank and the Executive Board of the European Central Bank, Otmar Issing offers event audiences informed insight into monetary policy, European economic affairs and the forces influencing the global financial system.