When Bank of Canada governor Stephen Poloz promoted Carolyn Wilkins to be his number two in 2014, he praised her as a “jack of all trades”.

Now Ms Wilkins, the bank’s senior deputy governor, has emerged as the frontrunner to replace Mr Poloz when he leaves the top job next year, in an appointment that would signal continuity while emphasising a focus on emerging challenges such as climate change and the digitisation of currency.

“If she wants the job, she will be the candidate to beat,” said Craig Wright, chief economist for Royal Bank of Canada.