H.E. Santiago Peña

His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Paraguay, Mr. Santiago Peña’s career trajectory is marked by a distinguished tenure at the Central Bank from 2000 to 2009, where he held significant roles in departments related to monetary and financial studies, including the Open Market Operations Department. Following this, he joined the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington D.C., where he contributed to the Africa Department. His experience also encompassed a role as an analyst at the Industrial Development Fund and as a board member at the Central Bank of Paraguay (BCP). His educational background includes a degree in economics and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Columbia University.
Moreover, he extended his influence to academia, teaching as an adjunct professor of Financial Theory at the Catholic University of Asuncion in 2004, later ascending to the position of Full Professor of Economic Theory in 2005. His intellectual contributions extended beyond the classroom, as he authored research papers in the fields of monetary policy and finance. In 2017, he was invited to serve as a visiting professor at George Washington University’s Graduate School of Political Management, where he shared his wealth of knowledge in Paraguayan public administration and mentored students, including prominent figures like Geovanny Vicente Romero, a CNN columnist and Columbia University professor.
Finally, from January 2015 to June 2017, he held the pivotal role of Minister of Finance. More recently, he has ventured into the private sector, serving on the board of Banco Basa for the past five years, and continuing to leverage his financial expertise and experience. In April 2023 he was elected 51st President of the Republic of Paraguay, taking office as of August 15th, 2023.