Perng Awarded as “A” Central Banker for 10th Straight Year in 2014

F. N. Perng, governor of Taiwan's central bank, is ranked as one of the world's seven best central bankers in 2014 by "Global Finance" magazine. This is the 10th year in a row that Perng has been ranked in the top tier of central bankers.

The “Central Banker Report Card” feature, published annually by "Global Finance" since 1994, grades central bank governors of key countries and regions on a sale of “A” to “F” based on their performance in such areas as inflation control, meeting economic growth goals, currency stability, and interest rate management. (“A” represents excellent performance; “F” indicates outright failure.) This year the magazine assessed nearly 70 central bank heads.

Perng has been given an "A" grade 11 times since assuming the top position at Taiwan's central bank in 1998. He won his first "A" grade in 2000 and followed up with 10 more straight “As” from 2005 to 2014.

The central bankers of six other countries received "As" this year: India, Israel, Malaysia, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, and Switzerland. This year also marks the 11th "A" for Malaysia's central bank governor, Zeti Akhtr Aziz.

Zhou Xiaochuan, governor of the People's Bank of China, received a “B-,” up from “C” in 2013, and Mario Draghi, president of the European Central Bank, was awarded an “A-,” the sane as last year. Japan's central banker, Haruhiko Kuroda, won a “B+” grade this year.

Perng is well known as being a workaholic with a strong sense of responsibility that has kept him in his office almost every day of the year so that he can keep a vigilant watch on changes in the global economic climate and financial market.

Perng has claimed no credit for his long-term contribution, instead attributing his run of success to the concerted efforts of his colleagues in the central bank and all the people of Taiwan. However, he says, maintaining financial stability and sound market development is his own constant responsibility. (JL)