Gheorghe Brânzei: Economist and former Baia Mare mayor

Gheorghe Brânzei, a prominent economist and political figure from Maramureș, was born on September 4, 1951. After graduating from the Faculty of Economic Sciences in Timișoara in 1976, he held various specialized economic roles in Baia Mare.

Following the 1989 revolution, Brânzei entered public life, serving as the first elected mayor of Baia Mare in 1992. In the same year, he was elected as a deputy to the Romanian Parliament, where he chaired the Committee for Budget, Finance, and Banks.

Between 1996 and 2016, he led the Maramureș branch of the National Bank of Romania, overseeing the region during significant economic shifts, including banking restructuring and Romania's accession to the European Union. He also pursued academic work, earning a doctorate in economic sciences in 2008.