Indian-American Gita Gopinath all set to join as IMF’s first Deputy Managing Director

Her elevation is remarkable as for the first time two women have held the top leadership positions at the IMF

PRAVASISAMWAD.COM

Indian-American Gita Gopinath, Chief Economist of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), will soon take over as IMF’s First Deputy Managing Director.

Instead of returning to her academic position in the prestigious Harvard University, Gita Gopinath will take up the challenging assignment at IMF, Siliconindia reported.

Her elevation is remarkable as for the first time two women have held the top leadership positions at the IMF.

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.

At the time of Gopinath’s appointment the Fund had said its second ranking official, First Deputy Managing Director Geoffrey Okamoto, would leave the Fund in early 2022 and will be replaced by Gita Gopinath.

Georgieva called 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 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

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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