Yi Gang is a Chinese economist and central banker who currently serves as the Governor of the People’s Bank of China (PBOC), the country’s central bank.
Born in 1958, he assumed the role of Governor in March 2018, succeeding Zhou Xiaochuan.
He has had an extensive career in academia and policymaking.
Yi Gang earned his Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1986.
Before joining the People’s Bank of China, Yi worked as a professor at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis and as an economist at the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
In 1997, Yi Gang joined the PBOC and held various positions, including Director-General of the Monetary Policy Department and Deputy Governor.
He also served as the Director of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE), responsible for managing China’s vast foreign exchange reserves.
As the PBOC Governor, Yi Gang is responsible for implementing monetary policy and maintaining financial stability in China.
He has played a key role in the country’s efforts to modernize its financial system, improve transparency, and liberalize its currency, the renminbi (RMB).