Mr Lousteau is set to replace Miguel Peirano

The appointment of Martin Lousteau, the president of Banco de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, comes amid worries about the impact of quickening inflation.

Ms Kirchner is set to continue her husband and predecessor's policies.

While Nestor Kirchner is credited with helping Argentina recover from a financial crisis, some problems remain.

National statistics

Under Nestor Kirchner, who became president in 2003, Argentina's economy has seen a sharp turn around since its economic collapse six years ago.

His government managed to pay off its debt to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as well as boost exports.

Annual growth in recent years has been strong, at close to 8%.

But analysts fear that these figures could be overly optimistic and have expressed concerns over inflation and energy shortages.

"Many simply don't believe official figures published by the national statistics office, INDEC," says the BBC's Daniel Schweimler in Buenos Aires.

While Mr Kirchner will not have an official position in the new cabinet when his wife comes to power on 10 December, many expect him to have strong influence from behind the scenes, our correspondent adds.