Born in
Katowice, Skrzypek graduated from the
Silesian University of Technology before taking an MBA from the
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, further post-graduate degrees at
Cracow University of Economics, the
University of Silesia,
Georgetown University and at
IESE Business School at the
University of Navarra. It was on 10 January 2007 that Skrzypek was appointed to the role of President of the NBP, with a vote of 239
Sejm deputies in favor, 202 against and one abstaining. He replaced
Leszek Balcerowicz. His choice by President Kaczynski was controversial; opposition parties and others criticised his comparative lack of experience. Prior to this position, he had been acting President of the managing board of
PKO BP, Poland's largest bank. He had also held positions in the
Supreme Chamber of Control (NIK), serving as Deputy President of the
National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management and working at
Polish State Railways (PKP). He acted as a deputy to the
Mayor of Warsaw between 2002 and 2005, responsible,
inter alia, for "financial policy, investment projects and corporate governance". After Skrzypek's death, the
Wall Street Journal reported how the management committee of the central bank had recently "come into open conflict with six members of the Council [of Ministers] after a council majority voted to change the rules dictating how the bank's net profit was calculated". ==Awards==