Chile's Senate has confirmed the appointment of economist Rosanna Costa as a director of Banco Central de Chile, replacing Rodrigo Vergara, according to a statement on the Senate's website.

The Senate voted 28 in favor with one abstention.

Costa, who was nominated to the position by Chilean President Michelle Bachelet earlier in January, becomes the second woman in the history of the central bank to sit on its board.

The economist, who served as a budget director in the Finance Ministry under former President Sebastián Piñera's administration, received broad support in the Senate. Ahead of the vote, various senators spoke of her "solid personal characteristics and professionalism," the statement said.