Boris Vujčić, the long-serving governor of Croatia's central bank, will assume the role of Vice-President of the European Central Bank (ECB) on June 1, 2026. Vujčić succeeds Luis de Guindos, whose eight-year term concludes on May 31. This appointment marks a significant milestone as Vujčić becomes the first individual from a post-2004 EU accession country to join the ECB's Executive Board. Vujčić's tenure at the Croatian National Bank since 2012 is highlighted by his leadership in integrating Croatia into the euro area in 2023. As he steps into his new role, Vujčić has expressed support for the digital euro, aligning with de Guindos' vision of it complementing cash. The digital euro project remains in its preparatory phase, with a decision on its issuance expected during Vujčić's term. Both Vujčić and de Guindos have stressed the importance of data-driven monetary policy, focusing on inflation, growth, and employment metrics.