Julio Velarde

Julio Velarde has held the position of Governor of the Central Reserve Bank of Peru (BCRP) since October 2006, and is currently serving his fourth consecutive term.

Mr. Velarde holds a master’s degree in economics from Brown University, where he also pursued doctoral studies, and earned a B.A. in economics from Universidad del Pacífico, where he received the Robert Maes Special Award in 1974.

He has held several academic leadership roles at Universidad del Pacífico, including Head of the Economics Department and Dean of the School of Economics, and was named Professor Emeritus in 2023.

Prior to his current tenure, Mr. Velarde served twice on the BCRP Board (1990–1992 and 2001–2003) and was Executive President of the Latin American Reserve Fund (FLAR) from 2004 to 2006.

Mr. Velarde has been recognized by numerous public and private institutions for his contributions to economic stability. In 2011, he received Peru’s Order of Merit for Distinguished Service. In 2015, he was awarded the Grand Officer distinction from the Lima Chamber of Commerce and the Congressional Medal of Honor. In 2024, he received honors from the Peruvian Exporters Association (ADEX) and the Peruvian Business Association (CONFIEP) for his contributions to export promotion and economic leadership, and was awarded an honorary doctorate by Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola (USIL). In 2025, Mr. Velarde received distinctions from Peru’s manufacturing association (SNI), the PAD School of Management at Universidad de Piura—through its Business Leadership for Change initiative—and Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos (UNMSM).

Internationally, Mr. Velarde has been named Central Bank Governor of the Year for Latin America by Emerging Markets (2010), Best Central Banker for Latin America by Global Finance (2015), and Central Bank Governor of the Year for Latin America by Global Markets and LatinFinance (2016). The Banker, published by the Financial Times, named him Central Banker of the Year – Global in 2016 and Central Banker of the Year – Americas from 2020 to 2022.