NATO chief Stoltenberg named Norway central bank chief despite opposition

FILE PHOTO: NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg attends a joint news conference with North Macedonian Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski in Brussels, Belgium February 3, 2022. REUTERS/Johanna Geron

OSLO (Reuters) -NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will become Norway's new central bank chief, the government said on Friday, despite opposition worries that the appointment of the former prime minister could weaken Norges Bank's independence.

While the job is open from March 1, Stoltenberg has said he would first serve out his term at NATO, which runs until Sept. 30. Norges Bank separately said it expects the new governor to take over on or around Dec. 1 this year.