New Zealand treasury head to be named Irish central bank chief - sources

DUBLIN (Reuters) - Ireland is set to appoint New Zealand treasury chief Gabriel Makhlouf as its new central bank governor, replacing Philip Lane who leaves next month to become the European Central Bank's chief economist, two sources familiar with the process said.

The nomination of Makhlouf, a former top UK civil servant who will also sit on the ECB's Governing Council as part of his new role, was brought to cabinet by Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe on Wednesday, one of the sources told Reuters.

He would be the first non-Irish national to be appointed to the role. A spokesman for the finance ministry declined to comment.

(Reporting by Padraic Halpin and Carmel Crimmins; Editing by Catherine Evans)