Harvard Will Have To Wait: Gita Gopinath Bags Top Leadership Role At IMF

In Gita Gopinath IMF gets its new First Deputy Managing Director: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief economist Gita Gopinath will become the number two official at the crisis lender based in Washington. IMF announced that Gopinath will be joining the position next month. The decision comes after the current First Deputy Managing Director Geoffrey Okamoto announced his exit from the organisation.

Okamoto, who will be leaving IMF early next year referred economist Gita Gopinath for the position, who will be serving under the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Chief Kristalina Georgieva. This is the first time two women will be holding the top most positions at IMF.

First Deputy Managing Director takes the lead on surveillance and related policies including the overseas reach of the Fund and its flagship projects.

Georgieva, in a tweet, stated, "I look forward to @GitaGopinath, one of the world's leading macroeconomists joining the leadership team as our FDMD early next year. I will continue to count her wise counsel at a time when the pandemic has increased economic challenges our members face."

While talking about her qualification for the job, Georgieva mentioned that Gopinath's years of experience at the Fund as Chief economist and her skill set made her perfect for the job role.

Who is Gita Gopinath?

Gopinath was appointed as Chief Economist at IMF in October 2018. While she is born in India and Gopinath is now a United States citizen. Gopinath was due to leave her job at IMF and join back her position at Harvard University, where she heads the fund’s research department.

Reacting to this sudden promotion up the ranks, Gopinath said that she is "honoured and humbled" to be the next FDMD. "Over the past three years, I have had the opportunity to experience first-hand and be a part of the hugely important work done by the IMF at the intersection of rigorous economic analysis and public policy."

Talking about the impact that IMF had on the lives of people, she said that as the world grapples with the economic issues by the COVID-19, the Fund's role became more "critical". She also thanked the Chief and her colleagues for the new role. Gopinath is going to start her new role as FDMD on January 21, 2022.

Suggested Reading:

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