Euro Group appoints new chief

The Euro Group has a new chairman.

Dutchman, Jeroen Dijsselbloem replaces Jean Claude Juncker who's stepped down after 7 years.

The current Netherland's Finance Minister says he wants to move on from a crisis management approach to the euro zone's problems.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPGROUP JEROEN DIJSSELBLOEM SAYING:

"Further restoring the trust in the euro and euro zone and the economic perspective for the countries, that is the main task at hand. There seems to be a new basis for trust and we have to work to enhance it to strengthen it and to build new growth and jobs."

Dijsselbloem - now 46 and a father of two - was a virtual unknown four months ago.

He's only been in his national post for three months.

And will keep that job as well as his new one.

A trained agricultural economist his latest position has surprised some.

HSBC's Bronwyn Curtis.

SOUNDBITE: Bronwyn Curtis, senior advisor, HSBC Global Banking and Markets, saying (English):

"He is part of the north group rather than the south peripheral group in Europe and that could be a problem because we've already seen a situation where Spain and other peripheral countries objecting to the appointment of yet another person from the northern countries into a key position."

But as Finance Minister of one of the few remaining triple A rated euro zone countries he's clearly done enough to impress most of his fellow ministers.

German Finance Minister, Wolfgang Schaeuble.

(SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN FINANCE MINISTER, WOLFGANG SCHAEUBLE, SAYING:

"I believe that he is a good president for the Eurogroup. I also believe it would be good, and this has also been suggested by my French colleague, to have a debate on the basic work of the Eurogroup."

Cemeting confidence may be another aim for the new Chairman.

But with elections in Italy and Germany looming - he may have his work cut out.