FACTBOX-Five facts about Poland's new treasury minister

Nov 16 (Reuters) - Following are five facts about Aleksander Grad, Poland's new treasury minister in the government of the centre-right Civic Platform and the centrist Polish Peasants' Party.

- Grad, 45, has been a member of the Polish parliament (Sejm) since 2001, the same year he joined Civic Platform.

- Grad has an engineering master's degree from AGH University in Krakow in land surveying.

- Grad started his career in politics in municipal government and was the governor of the province of Tarnow from 1997-1999.

- Grad is in favour of speeding up privatisation, which was largely stalled under the conservative government over the past two years.

- Grad is cautious on creating "national champions". He has spoken against the idea of merging Polish fuel refiners PKN PKNA.WA and Lotos LTOS.WA.