Martin Schlegel (economist)

Martin Schlegel (born 20. August 1976) is a Swiss economist and Vice-Chairman of the Governing Board of the Swiss National Bank (SNB).

Education and business career
Martin Schlegel studied economics at the University of Zurich and completed his studies in 2003 with a master's degree. Subsequently, he joined the Research Unit at the SNB followed by positions in the SNB's Financial Market Analysis and Money Market units. While working, he obtained a doctorate in economics from the University of Basel in 2009. Since 2010, he has been an Adjunct Professor at the University of Basel. In the years 2015 and 2016 Schlegel also worked as an expert for the International Monetary Fund.

After a proposal from the SNB's Bank Council, Schlegel was appointed as an Alternate member of the SNB's Governing Board by the Swiss Federal Council in June 2018. In May 2022, the Federal Council appointed Schlegel as the Vice-Chairman of the Governing Board of the Swiss National Bank. This also made him Head of Department II of the SNB. Later that year he was a speaker at the Forum for Financial Market Stability held by the Financial Market Authority Liechtenstein.

In an interview in October 2023 Schlegel, talking about the Acquisition of Credit Suisse by UBS, said: "We don't have a mandate to rescue a bank."

After the announcement of Thomas Jordans resignation in March 2024, Schlegel was seen as the favourite for his position as Chairman of the SNB. On 26 June 2024 the Federal Council elected Schlegel as the new Chairman following the recommendation of the Governing Board. He will assume the position on 1 October 2024.

Personal life
Schlegel is married to Nicole Brändle, who's the current director of HotellerieSuisse. They have 3 children together.