IMF chief economist Gita Gopinath promoted as Dy. General Manager

The Fund said its second ranking official, First Deputy Managing Director Geoffrey Okamoto, will leave the Fund in early 2022 and will be replaced by Gita Gopinath, who currently serves as the IMF’s chief economist.

Indian-American Gita Gopinath, chief economist of the International Monetary Fund, is being promoted as IMF’s First Deputy Managing Director, the IMF said on Thursday 

The Fund said its second ranking official, First Deputy Managing Director Geoffrey Okamoto, will leave the Fund in early 2022 and will be replaced by Gita Gopinath, who currently serves as the IMF’s chief economist.

Gopinath was earlier scheduled to leave the IMF to return to Harvard University in January, but had decided to stay on in the wide-ranging policy role under IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva.

This is the first time two women have held the top leadership roles in the IMF.

Georgieva call Gopinath “the right person at the right time” to take the leadership role. Indeed, her particular skill set — combined with her years of experience at the Fund as Chief Economist — make her uniquely well qualified.” 

Gopinath said that “As the pandemic continues its grip on us, the work of the Fund has never been more critical and international cooperation never more important.”

Georgieva said Ms. Gopinath’s contribution to the Fund’s work has already been exceptional, especially her “intellectual leadership in helping the global economy and the Fund to navigate the twists and turns of the worst economic crisis of our lives.”

She also said Ms. Gopinath — the first female chief economist in IMF history — has garnered respect and admiration across member countries 

Ms. Gopinath said: “As the pandemic continues its grip on us, the work of the Fund has never been more critical and international cooperation never more important. I am very thankful to Kristalina and the Board for this opportunity, and so look forward to collaborating closely with all the incredibly brilliant and committed colleagues at the IMF”.

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