Skrtic was nominated by Economy Minister Ivan Vrdoljak, who was in attendance. She will remain in this position until a new assembly is called to appoint a new HGK president.
Vrdoljak said the HGK was separate from politics but that the Economy Ministry got involved to help the HGK in a tough situation, otherwise its reputation would be tarnished further.
He said the HGK would have to reduce costs and revenues as well as consider the cancellation or slashing of membership fees and slashing contributions, because the HGK must be cheaper and more efficient to the economy.
He said the cuts would not undermine the HGK's future because the HGK was necessary to both the economy and the government, and that in the next couple of months it would be clear what to do next.
Vrdoljak said the post of HGK acting president was thankless because it carried political responsibility, but added that Skrtic accepted on the condition that the HGK be restructured and that applications for the new president be invited as soon as possible.
In the meantime, investigating bodies must do their job undisturbed and with the full support of all employees, he added. "Everyone who was part of this chain must be held to account and I genuinely hope that one day we will stop stealing in this country."
Vrdoljak was hopeful that the HGK would come out of "this chaos" more efficient, more useful and cheaper, saying it would have his ministry's support.
The supervisory and management boards of the HGK on Wednesday suspended Vidosevic as HGK president after he was arrested on suspicion that he and several other HGK employees had siphoned at least HRK 35 million from the HGK.
The HGK on Wednesday appointed Darko Petricevic as acting president but the appointment was quickly withdrawn after media reports that Petricevic was under prosecution because, amongst other things, he had not paid his workers.
Vidosevic, who had led the chamber for the past 18 years, was placed in one month's investigative custody on Wednesday.