BNP Paribas appoints Isabelle Mateos y Lago as Chief Economist

Isabelle Mateos y Lago is appointed BNP Paribas Chief Economist from 3 September 2024, replacing William de Vijlder, current BNP Paribas Chief Economist since 2014, who will be retiring in a few months’ time.

Isabelle, previously Chief Markets Strategist at BlackRock, reports to Lars Machenil, the Group's Chief Financial Officer. William will take on the role of Economic Adviser to the Group's General Management, reporting to Lars Machenil.

Isabelle Mateos y Lago brings a wealth of experience in economics, finance and geopolitics gained throughout her international career at leading financial institutions in France, the United States and the United Kingdom. Isabelle will continue to reinforce the Economic Research Unit’s crucial role supporting the Group’s business lines and its clients, and develop new initiatives to ensure that BNP Paribas continues to benefit from cutting-edge economic research.

Throughout his career, William de Vijlder has provided the Group with in-depth economic analysis, helping to guide our strategic decisions and enabling us to better understand and anticipate global economic cycles. Under his leadership, BNP Paribas' Economic Research department has developed considerably, consolidating its essential advisory role for the Group and its ability to offer solutions that meet the needs of our business lines and our clients in terms of economic research.

"I would like to express my deep gratitude to William for his many years of service to BNP Paribas. His commitment to high-quality economic analysis and his ability to analyse global trends have been invaluable assets for the Bank. Through his many publications and public speeches, William has offered enlightened perspectives to our clients and partners, while helping to raise the international profile of Economic Studies, making it an important asset in the service of our reputation. I am delighted that Isabelle is joining the BNP Paribas project and I wish her every success in her new role " said Jean-Laurent Bonnafé, Chief Executive Officer of BNP Paribas.

"I am delighted to welcome Isabelle to BNP Paribas and look forward to working with her in the future. Her in-depth and wide-ranging economic expertise, as well as her first-rate international experience, will be invaluable assets in nurturing our relationships with our clients and partners around the world and continuing to support the Group's ability to navigate in an often complex and constantly changing environment" said Lars Machenil, Group Chief Financial Officer.

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Isabelle Mateos y Lago has over 25 years' experience in international economics, finance and public policy. She began her career in France at the Inspection Générale des Finances before joining the IMF, where she held key positions in the Asia, Europe and Strategy departments, before serving as advisor to the Executive Board under Christine Lagarde until 2014. She joined BlackRock in 2015 and was Chief Macro Investment Strategist at the BlackRock Investment Institute and then Chief Markets Strategist in the Financial and Strategic Investors Group until 2024.

Isabelle Mateos y Lago earned degrees from Sciences Po Paris (Institut d'études politiques de Paris) and Cambridge University (Economics) and is an alumna of the ENA (Ecole Nationale d’Administration).

William de Vijlder has been Chief Economist of BNP Paribas Group since 2014. He previously held the position of Chief Investment Officer (CIO) at Fortis Investments, before joining BNP Paribas Investment Partners in 2010 as CIO Strategy and Partners and member of the Executive Committee. William began his career in 1987 in the Economic Research Department of Générale de Banque, before joining the Asset Management Department in 1989 as head of investment strategy.

William de Vijlder holds a PhD in Economics from Ghent University (Belgium), where he has taught since 1991 as a lecturer and then professor.