Gita Gopinath, the current First Deputy Managing Director (FDMD) of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), will leave the organization at the end of August, as announced by IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva. After more than four years at the IMF, Gopinath is returning to academia as the inaugural Gregory and Ania Coffey Professor of Economics at Harvard University.
Georgieva praised Gopinath as an exceptional intellectual leader and a dedicated manager, highlighting her contributions during a challenging period that included the pandemic, wars, and the cost-of-living crisis. Gopinath was the first female chief economist in IMF history, recognized for her analytical rigor and practical policy advice.
During her tenure, Gopinath played a significant role in steering the IMF’s analytical and policy work, particularly in fiscal and monetary policy, debt management, and international trade. She advised on critical programs in countries like Argentina and Ukraine and represented the IMF in influential groups such as the G7 and G20.
Gopinath also spearheaded the Integrated Policy Framework (IPF), which aids countries in developing policies for macroeconomic stability. Notably, she co-authored the Pandemic Plan, which set global vaccination targets during the COVID-19 crisis.
As she prepares to transition back to academia, Gopinath expressed gratitude for her time at the IMF, emphasizing her appreciation for the opportunity to work with dedicated staff and management. She looks forward to advancing research in international finance and macroeconomics and training the next generation of economists.
The IMF will announce Gopinath’s successor in due course.