# Governor of the Bank of Spain

The governor of the Bank of Spain (Spanish: Gobernador del Banco de España) is the head of the Bank of Spain, the central bank of the Kingdom of Spain. The Bank of Spain is integrated in the European System of Central Banks and, as such, the Governor is an ex officio member of the Governing Council of the European Central Bank.
The Governor is appointed by the executive branch and it reports to both Government and Parliament. To ensure its independence, the governor has a term of six years, with no possibility of renewal. Further, the governor cannot be fired except for exceptional cases.
The current governor of the Bank of Spain is economist José Luis Escrivá.

## Appointment process

As stipulated by the Bank of Spain Autonomy Act of 1994, the Monarch appoints the Governor, the Deputy Governor and the rest of members of the Bank's Governing Council and Executive Committee. The governor is nominated by the Prime Minister, while the deputy governor is nominated by the incumbent governor.
The governor has a special appointment process. Before the appointment, the Minister of Economy must appear before the Congress of Deputies' Economy Committee to inform them about the candidate. The candidate does not need the approval of Congress, although as a requirement, the candidate is required to be a Spanish person with recognized competence in monetary or banking matters.
The governor's and deputy governor's term’s lasts six years and is not renewable. The governor and deputy governor only leave the office when the term ends, by resignation or when the Government proves that the governor has a permanent incapacity for the exercise of their powers, serious breach of their obligations, office incompatibility or prosecution for a criminal offense.

## Functions

The governor's functions are:
* To direct the Bank and preside over the Governing Council and the Executive Committee.
* To legally represent the Bank for all purposes and, especially, before courts of justice, as well as authorize contracts and documents and perform the other activities that are necessary for performance of the functions entrusted to the Bank of Spain.
* To represent the Bank of Spain in institutions and international organizations in which it is expected to participate.
* To hold the status of member of the Governing Council and of the General Council of the European Central Bank.

## List of governors

This is a list of the people that have served as Governor of the Bank of Spain. This title was adopted in 1856, although the Bank's roots dates back to 1782.
| # | Name | Appointment | Termination | Ref. | Designated by |
| 1 | Ramón de Santillán González (1791-1861) | April 24, 1856 | October 19, 1863 | | Juan Bravo Murillo (Minister of Finance) |
| 2 | Francisco Santa Cruz Pacheco (1797-1883) | October 30, 1863 | March 31, 1866 | | Victorio Fernández Lascoiti Fourquet (Minister of Finance) |
| 3 | Victorio Fernández Lascoiti Fourquet (1810-1878) | April 20, 1866 | July 25, 1866 | | Manuel Alonso Martínez (Minister of Finance) |
| 4 | Juan Bautista Trúpita Jiménez Cisneros (1815-1873) | July 25, 1866 | October 24, 1868 | | José García Barzanallana (Minister of Finance) |
| 5 | Manuel Cantero San Vicente (1804-1876) | October 24, 1868 | December 6, 1876 | | Laureano Figuerola (Minister of Finance) |
| 6 | Pedro Salaverría y Charitu (1821-1896) | January 14, 1877 | October 20, 1877 | | José García Barzanallana (Minister of Finance) |
| 7 | José Elduayen Gorriti (1823-1898) | October 20, 1877 | February 12, 1878 | | Manuel Orovio Echagüe (Minister of Finance) |
| 8 | Martín Belda y Mencía del Barrio (1820-1882) | February 17, 1878 | March 1, 1881 | | Manuel Orovio Echagüe (Minister of Finance) |
| 9 | Antonio Romero Ortiz (1822-1884) | March 1, 1881 | October 27, 1883 | | Juan Francisco Camacho de Alcorta (Minister of Finance) |
| 10 | Juan Francisco Camacho de Alcorta (1813-1896) | October 27, 1883 | January 22, 1884 | | José Gallostra y Frau (Minister of Finance) |
| 11 | Francisco de Cárdenas Espejo (1817-1898) | January 24, 1884 | January 31, 1885 | | Fernando Cos-Gayón (Minister of Finance) |
| 12 | Salvador Albacete y Albert (1827-1890) | February 10, 1885 | August 4, 1890 | | Fernando Cos-Gayón (Minister of Finance) |
| 13 | Cayetano Sánchez Bustillo (1839-1908) | August 14, 1890 | November 25, 1891 | | Fernando Cos-Gayón (Minister of Finance) |
| 14 | Juan Francisco Camacho de Alcorta (1813-1896) | November 25, 1891 | April 6, 1892 | | Juan de la Concha Castañeda (Minister of Finance) |
| 15 | Santos de Isasa y Valseca (1822-1907) | April 8, 1892 | December 28, 1892 | | Juan de la Concha Castañeda (Minister of Finance) |
| 16 | Pío Gullón Iglesias (1835-1917) | December 28, 1892 | April 4, 1895 | | Germán Gamazo (Minister of Finance) |
| 17 | Santos de Isasa y Valseca (1822-1907) | April 4, 1895 | September 10, 1895 | | Juan Navarro Reverter (Minister of Finance) |
| 18 | Manuel Aguirre de Tejada (1827-1911) | September 15, 1895 | December 14, 1895 | | Juan Navarro Reverter (Minister of Finance) |
| 19 | José García Barzanallana (1819-1903) | December 17, 1895 | October 19, 1897 | | Juan Navarro Reverter (Minister of Finance) |
| 20 | Manuel de Eguilior y Llaguno (1842-1931) | October 21, 1897 | March 6, 1899 | | Joaquín López Puigcerver (Minister of Finance) |
| 21 | Luis María de la Torre y de la Hoz (1827-1901) | March 6, 1899 | October 24, 1899 | | Joaquín López Puigcerver (Minister of Finance) |
| 22 | Antonio María Fabié Escudero (1832-1899) | October 26, 1899 | December 3, 1899 | | Raimundo Fernández Villaverde (Minister of Finance) |
| 23 | Juan de la Concha Castañeda (1818-1903) | January 2, 1900 | April 12, 1901 | | Raimundo Fernández Villaverde (Minister of Finance) |
| 24 | Pío Gullón e Iglesias (1835-1917) | April 12, 1901 | February 18, 1902 | | Ángel Urzaiz (Minister of Finance) |
| 25 | Andrés Mellado Fernández (1846-1913) | July 25, 1902 | December 9, 1902 | | Tirso Rodrigáñez y Sagasta (Minister of Finance) |
| 26 | Antonio García Alix (1852-1911) | December 9, 1902 | July 20, 1903 | | Raimundo Fernández Villaverde (Minister of Finance) |
| 27 | José Sánchez Guerra y Martínez (1859-1935) | July 28, 1903 | December 5, 1903 | | Augusto González Besada (Minister of Finance) |
| 28 | Tomás Castellano y Villarroya (1850-1906) | December 8, 1903 | December 16, 1904 | | Guillermo de Osma y Scull (Minister of Finance) |
| 29 | Manuel Allendesalazar y Muñoz de Salazar (1856-1923) | December 20, 1904 | August 17, 1905 | | Tomás Castellano y Villarroya (Minister of Finance) |
| 30 | Trinitario Ruiz y Capdepón (1836-1911) | August 17, 1905 | June 25, 1906 | | José Echegaray (Minister of Finance) |
| 31 | Fernando Merino Villarino (1860-1929) | June 25, 1906 | January 26, 1907 | | Amós Salvador Rodrigáñez (Minister of Finance) |
| 32 | José Sánchez Guerra y Martínez (1859-1935) | January 26, 1907 | September 14, 1908 | | Guillermo de Osma y Scull (Minister of Finance) |
| 33 | Antonio García Alix (1852-1911) | September 14, 1908 | October 30, 1909 | | Augusto González Besada (Minister of Finance) |
| 34 | Fernando Merino Villarino (1860-1929) | October 30, 1909 | February 9, 1910 | | Juan Alvarado y del Saz (Minister of Finance) |
| 35 | Tirso Rodrigáñez y Sagasta (1853-1935) | February 12, 1910 | April 3, 1911 | | Eduardo Cobián (Minister of Finance) |
| 36 | Eduardo Cobián y Rofiñac (1857-1918) | April 6, 1911 | November 12, 1913 | | Tirso Rodrigáñez y Sagasta (Minister of Finance) |
| 37 | Lorenzo Domínguez Pascual (1863-1923) | November 12, 1913 | January 13, 1916 | | Gabino Bugallal (Minister of Finance) |
| 38 | Manuel de Eguilior Llaguno (1842-1931) | January 13, 1916 | July 19, 1916 | | Ángel Urzaiz (Minister of Finance) |
| 39 | Amós Salvador Rodrigáñez (1845-1922) | July 19, 1916 | June 15, 1917 | | Santiago Alba Bonifaz (Minister of Finance) |
| 40 | Lorenzo Domínguez Pascual (1863-1926) | June 15, 1917 | November 13, 1917 | | Gabino Bugallal (Minister of Finance) |
| 41 | Tirso Rodrigáñez y Sagasta (1853-1935) | November 13, 1917 | April 23, 1919 | | Juan Ventosa (Minister of Finance) |
| 42 | Manuel Allendesalazar y Muñoz de Salazar (1856-1923) | April 23, 1919 | October 17, 1919 | | Juan de la Cierva y Peñafiel (Minister of Finance) |
| 43 | Eduardo Sanz Escartín (1855-1939) | October 17, 1919 | March 13, 1921 | | Gabino Bugallal (Minister of Finance) |
| 44 | José Maestre Pérez (1866-1933) | March 17, 1921 | August 15, 1921 | | Manuel de Argüelles (Minister of Finance) |
| 45 | Luis Alfonso Sedó Guichard (1873-1952) | August 23, 1921 | March 14, 1922 | | Francisco Cambó (Minister of Finance) |
| 46 | Salvador Bermúdez de Castro O'Lawlor (1863-1945) | March 14, 1922 | January 2, 1923 | | Francisco Bergamín García (Minister of Finance) |
| 47 | Tirso Rodrigáñez y Sagasta (1853-1935) | January 2, 1923 | September 17, 1923 | | José Manuel Pedregal (Minister of Finance) |
| 48 | Carlos Vergara Cailleaux (1854-1929) | February 25, 1924 | October 16, 1929 | | Miguel Primo de Rivera |
| 49 | José Manuel Figueras Arizcun (1869-1944) | October 16, 1929 | February 21, 1930 | | José Calvo Sotelo (Minister of Finance) |
| 50 | Juan Antonio Gamazo y Abarca (1883-1968) | February 21, 1930 | August 31, 1930 | | Manuel de Argüelles (Minister of Finance) |
| 51 | Federico Carlos Bas Vassallo (1873-1938) | August 31, 1930 | April 16, 1931 | | Julio Wais San Martín (Minister of Finance) |
| 52 | Julio Carabias Salcedo (1883-1963) | April 16, 1931 | September 30, 1933 | | Indalecio Prieto (Minister of Finance) |
| 53 | Manuel Marraco Ramón (1870-1956) | September 30, 1933 | March 3, 1934 | | Antonio Lara Zárate (Minister of Finance) |
| 54 | Alfredo de Zavala y Lafora (1893-1995) | March 7, 1934 | April 3, 1935 | | Manuel Marraco Ramón (Minister of Finance) |
| 55 | Alejandro Fernández de Araoz y de la Devesa (1894-1970) | April 6, 1935 | May 10, 1935 | | Alfredo de Zavala y Lafora (Minister of Finance) |
| 56 | Alfredo de Zavala y Lafora (1893-1995) | May 10, 1935 | February 28, 1936 | | Joaquín Chapaprieta (Minister of Finance) |
| 57 | Luis Nicolau d'Olwer (1888-1961) | March 4, 1936 | 1938 | ? | Gabriel Franco (Minister of Finance) |
| When the Civil War broke out, the Bank of Spain remained operational in the Republican-controlled areas until late 1938. At that time, the governor, Julio Carabias, stepped down temporarily. In the areas controlled by the Nationalists, the Burgos branch lacked a governor until April 1938, when Antonio Goicoechea was appointed. |||||||
| 58 | Antonio Goicoechea Cosculluela (1876-1953) | March 25, 1938 | July 21, 1950 | | Andrés Amado (Minister of Finance) |
| 59 | Francisco de Cárdenas y de la Torre (1875-1967) | August 2, 1950 | September 7, 1951 | | Joaquín Benjumea Burín (Minister of Finance) |
| 60 | Joaquín Benjumea Burín (1876-1963) | September 7, 1951 | December 30, 1963 | [125] [126] | Francisco Gómez de Llano (Minister of Finance) |
| 61 | Mariano Navarro Rubio (1913-2001) | July 9, 1965 | July 24, 1970 | | Juan José Espinosa San Martín (Minister of Finance) |
| 62 | Luis Coronel de Palma (1925-2000) | July 24, 1970 | August 24, 1976 | | Alberto Monreal Luque (Minister of Finance) |
| 63 | José María López de Letona (1922-2018) | August 24, 1976 | March 2, 1978 | | Eduardo Carriles Galarraga (Minister of Finance) |
| 64 | José Ramón Álvarez Rendueles (1940 - ) | March 2, 1978 | July 24, 1980 | | Fernando Abril Martorell |
| 64 | José Ramón Álvarez Rendueles (1940 - ) | July 24, 1980 | July 24, 1984 | | Adolfo Suárez |
| 65 | Mariano Rubio Jiménez (1931-1999) | July 24, 1984 | July 24, 1988 | | Felipe González |
| 65 | Mariano Rubio Jiménez (1931-1999) | July 24, 1988 | July 24, 1992 | | Felipe González |
| 66 | Luis Ángel Rojo Duque (1934-2011) | July 25, 1992 | July 8, 1994 | | Felipe González |
| 66 | Luis Ángel Rojo Duque (1934-2011) | July 8, 1994 | July 12, 2000 | | Felipe González |
| 67 | Jaime Caruana Lacorte (1952) | July 12, 2000 | July 12, 2006 | | José María Aznar (President of the Government) |
| 68 | Miguel Ángel Fernández Ordóñez (1945- ) | July 12, 2006 | June 11, 2012 | | José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero (President of the Government) |
| 69 | Luis María Linde de Castro (1945- ) | June 11, 2012 | June 11, 2018 | | Mariano Rajoy (President of the Government) |
| 70 | Pablo Hernández de Cos (1971- ) | June 11, 2018 | 11 June 2024 | | Mariano Rajoy (President of the Government) |
| - | Margarita Delgado (acting governor) | June 11, 2024 | September 6, 2024 | | |
| 71 | José Luis Escrivá (1960- ) | September 6, 2024 | | | Pedro Sánchez (President of the Government) |