Contrary to expectations, and the recommendation of the central bank council iself, Professor Bruno Gehrig was not appointed the successor to Hans Meyer as the chairman of the Swiss National Bank. Instead, the prize has gone to the French-speaking Jean-Pierre Roth. It is believed to be the first time that the recommendation of the central bank council on the presidency has been set aside by the Government.

When Meyer announced in July that he would retire at the end of this year, cutting short