Softic stayed on as the bank´s governor after political obstructions had blocked the appointment of his successor and a new steering board after their six-year mandates expired in August 2021.
The appointment of Selimovic for a six-year term was made possible after the Balkan country´s presidency in late December agreed to nominate members of a new managing board after more than two years. They took on their jobs officially on Wednesday.
Selimovic expressed gratitude to the presidency and the bank's steering board for support, saying she was "proud to be the first woman governor in Bosnia and Herzegovina's modern history", and that she was aware of the great responsibility that the task carried.
The central bank, which was established by international peace overseers after Bosnia's 1992-95 war, is tasked with operating the currency board for the Bosnian marka, which is tied at a fixed exchange rate to the euro.
Selimovic said that the bank´s activities during her term would focus on maintaining the currency board and the stability of the bank and its operation, as well as preserving its independence and professional work.
Under the terms of the 1995 Dayton peace accords, Bosnia is split into two ethnically-based regions. All government roles, including that of central bank governor, are divided between Orthodox Serbs, Catholic Croats and Muslim Bosniaks.
Selimovic was a lecturer at the Sarajevo University School of Economics and Business since 2004. She was also chosen to be the School´s dean for two terms.
(Reporting by Daria Sito-Sucic; Editing by Tomasz Janowski and Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
