Banque du Liban appointed Nassib Ghobril as its chief economist, creating a senior role focused on economic research and data analysis. Ghobril will lead and develop the central bank’s Economic Research and Analysis Department. His responsibilities include overseeing studies and the publication of annual and quarterly reports.
Ghobril joins the central bank after serving as chief economist and head of economic research and analysis at Byblos Bank since 2006. He previously led research functions at Lebanon Invest, Groupe Saradar and the Audi-Saradar Group. Banque du Liban said he brings more than 25 years of experience following the Lebanese economy and managing research teams.
RESEARCH ROLE EXPANDS
The appointment gives Banque du Liban a designated chief economist as it manages the aftermath of the country’s financial collapse. The central bank said the new position was intended to strengthen policy formulation through deeper research and integrated analysis of economic data. Ghobril’s department will therefore have a direct role in producing the institution’s formal economic assessments.
Lebanon’s central bank is operating amid unresolved questions over bank restructuring, loss allocation and depositor recovery. Its public analysis will be scrutinised for assumptions about the financial gap, bank solvency and the state’s obligations. The appointment does not itself settle those policy disputes, but it places responsibility for the research function with an economist long associated with the commercial banking sector.
REPORTING WILL BE TESTED
Ghobril’s previous work included research on Lebanon and regional markets, according to L’Orient Today. Banque du Liban said the department would prepare studies and analyses alongside recurring reports. The quality, timeliness and transparency of those publications will be important as the institution seeks to rebuild confidence in its policy framework.
The next concrete milestone will be the first annual or quarterly report issued under Ghobril’s leadership. Readers will watch whether those publications clarify the central bank’s economic assumptions and improve access to data used in decision-making. Any change to the department’s mandate, staffing or publication calendar would also indicate how substantial the new role becomes.