Treasury has appointed Dr Girol Karacaoglu to the role of Deputy Secretary - Macroeconomics, International and Economic Research.

Dr Karacaoglu will provide strategic leadership on broad economic policy issues, in particular fiscal and monetary policy settings, and New Zealand’s international linkages, chief excutive Gabriel Makhlouf said.

He will also take on the position of chief economist.

Dr Karacaoglu is currently chief executive of The Co-operative Bank and his previous roles include general manager at Westpac NZ, chief economist at the National Bank of NZ, senior research adviser at the Reserve Bank of NZ, and lecturer in economics at Victoria University of Wellington.

He will join the Treasury on 1 March.