Former President of the European Central Bank (1 June 1998 – 31 Oct. 2003)
Member State: Netherlands
Political Party: Labour
Date of birth: 9 July 1935
Died: 31 July 2005

Duisenberg, a Dutch economist, was the first president of the European Central Bank (ECB) and presided over transition to the Euro. He previously worked for the International Monetary Fund, served as Holland’s finance minister and headed the Dutch Central Bank. France initially opposed Duisenberg’s apointment to head the ECB, preferring the French Jean-Claude Trichet. But France relented with the understanding that Duisenberg would not complete his entire mandate and be replaced by Trichet.