José Viñals

José Maria Viñals Íñiguez is a Spanish economist and businessman. He serves as Group Chairman of Standard Chartered and Chairman of Standard Chartered Bank, the United Kingdom subsidiary of Standard Chartered.

José is Co-Chair of the United Nations’ Alliance of Global Investors for Sustainable Development (GISD) and a board member of the Institute of International Finance (IIF). 

He is also a member of the board of directors of the Bretton Woods Committee, member of the Advisory Council of CityUK, member of the World Economic Forum’s Community of Chairpersons and board member of the Social Progress Initiative.

He has also held the positions of Chairman of the European Central Bank International Relations Committee; and Chairman of Spain’s Deposit Guarantee Funds.

He has been a member of: the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) Committee on the Global Financial System, the European Central Bank Monetary Policy Committee, and the high-level group appointed by the President of the European Commission to examine economic challenges in the European Union. 

He was also a member of the European Union Economic and Financial Committee and a Board Member of the Spanish Securities Authority, the Comisión Nacional del Mercado de Valores.

He holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Valencia, a Master’s degree in Economics from the London School of Economics, and Master's and Doctoral (Ph.D.) degrees in Economics from Harvard University. He is a former Faculty Member of the Economics Department at Stanford University.

His awards include the Premio Rey Jaime I (King James I Prize) in Economics in 2001.

José Viñals was born 20 June 1954 in Madrid, Spain. He graduated from the University of Valencia with a bachelor's degree in economics in 1976 and went on to earn a master's degree in economics from the London School of Economics in 1977 and a PhD from Harvard University in 1981.
Viñals began his career as an assistant professor of economics at Stanford University from 1981 to 1986.

Viñals worked as an economist for the Bank of Spain from 1986 to 2006, when he retired as Deputy Governor.

José has held many other board and advisory positions including Chair of Spain’s Deposit Guarantee Fund, Chair of the International Relations Committee at the European Central Bank, member of the Economic and Financial Committee of the European Union, and Chair of the Working Group on Institutional Investors at the Bank for International Settlements.

José was most recently the Financial Counsellor and the Director of the Monetary and Capital Markets Department at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) from 2009 to 2016, where he  was responsible for the oversight and direction of the IMF’s monetary and financial sector work. 

He was the IMF’s chief spokesman on financial matters, including global financial stability. During his tenure, José was a member of the Plenary and Steering Committee of the Financial Stability Board, playing a key role in the reform of international financial regulation. 

José was appointed to Standard Chartered PLC in October 2016 and succeeded John Peace as group chairman of Standard Chartered on December 1, 2016. He also chairs the Governance and Nomination Committee. José was appointed Chairman of Standard Chartered Bank in April 2019.
 

José has substantial experience in the international regulatory arena and has exceptional understanding of the economic, financial and political dynamics of our markets and of global trade, and a deep and broad network of decision-makers in the jurisdictions in our footprint.

He envisions a global financial system that is resilient, stable, and inclusive. With his vast experience in economics and his leadership roles in various institutions, his vision is to promote sound monetary and capital markets that contribute to sustainable economic growth. He aims to foster effective regulation and supervision to ensure financial stability and mitigate systemic risks.

José recognizes the importance of international cooperation and coordination in addressing complex financial challenges. He envisions stronger collaboration among policymakers, central banks, and regulatory bodies to enhance financial governance and promote transparency. His vision encompasses promoting responsible and ethical banking practices that prioritize customer interests and support sustainable development goals.

Furthermore, José aims to bridge the gap between developed and developing economies, promoting financial inclusion and empowering individuals and businesses worldwide. He sees the potential of leveraging technological advancements and digital innovations to expand financial access and improve financial literacy.