Swiss National Bank appoints Martin Brown as chief economist starting Oct. 1

The Swiss National Bank has named Martin Brown as its next Head of Economic Affairs, replacing Carlos Lenz in a role that carries outsized influence over one of the world’s most closely watched central banks. Brown will formally take over on October 1, 2026. Lenz, who has served as the SNB’s chief economist since 2015, plans to retire at the end of the year. The handover gives Brown a three-month overlap to settle in before flying solo. Who is Martin Brown Brown, 55, currently directs the SNB Foundation’s Study Center Gerzensee, a position he’s held since 2022. The center is essentially the SNB’s in-house think tank for monetary policy research, so calling this an inside hire would be accurate. His ties to the central bank go back further. Brown worked at the SNB from 2004 to 2011, giving him seven years of institutional knowledge before he moved into academia. He holds a doctorate from the University of Zurich and serves as an adjunct professor of financial economics at the University of St. Gallen, one of Europe’s leading business schools. Why the role matters The Head of Economic Affairs at the SNB isn’t just a prestige title. The division is responsible for analyzing economic c...