Born in Drăgăsani, Arges, he graduates in 1971 the Academy of Economical Studies of Bucharest, then for the next 19 years, he words for the Institute of International Economics.

After the 1989 Romanian revolution, he works for the External Affairs Ministef, in the Romanian Embassy in United States, then, in September 1990, becomes the Governor of the National Bank of Romania.

On 16 December, 1999 he became the Prime Minister of Romania, but only for about a year, since in November 2000, the ruling coalition lost the elections.