On the board: The ECB's new executive line-up

WIM DUISENBERG (above), 63, former head of the Dutch Central Bank and since last year president of the European Monetary Institute, the forerunner of the ECB, is known as a tough-minded hardliner in monetary policy. A recent survey of analysts ranked him the toughest central banker on inflation of all 11 countries set to join Emu, including Hans Tietmeyer at the Bundesbank. Mr Duisenberg is an economist by profession and a former Dutch finance minister.

CHRISTIAN NOYER, 47, is a career civil servant whose last job was as chief of staff to Jean Arthuis, France's former finance minister. Since the centre-right government lost power in June, he has been touted for several top jobs at state-owned French banks.

OTMAR ISSING, 62, is one of the few members of the Bundesbank's 17-member policy-setting council with no political affiliation. He's known as a die-hard monetarist who speaks his mind forcibly. He was appointed chief economist at the Bundesbank on the eve of reunification.

SIRKKA HAMALAINEN, 59, is governor of the Bank of Finland. Last month she caused bonds across Europe to plummet after raising borrowing costs to keep Finland's soaring economy in check. Her track record in bringing inflation under control is impressive.

EUGENIO DOMINGO SOLANS, 53, is a career economist who has been one of the Bank of Spain's executive commissioners since 1994. He has been professor of economics at various universities and has also held posts at a number of banks, including Banco Atlantico.

TOMMASO PADOA-SCHIOPPA, 57, is a former deputy governor of the Bank of Italy and was recently appointed the Italian stock market's chief regulator. He has also chaired the Basel Committee for Banking Supervision at the Bank for International Settlements.