Gita Gopinath elevated to No. 2 position at IMF, to take up post early next year

The International Monetary Fund named its chief economist Gita Gopinath to become its second-ranking official, as she would be promoted as IMF's First Deputy Managing Director in early 2022.

IMF confirmed that Indian-American Gopinath who was slated to return to her teaching post in Harvard has accepted her new role at the IMF where she has been chief economist for three years.

I am delighted that Gita has decided to stay and accept the new responsibility of being our FDMD," said Kristalina Georgieva, IMF's Managing Director.

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Georgieva said Gopinath was "universally recognized as one of the world’s leading macroeconomists" and had precisely the expertise needed for the No. 2 job, given the increased macroeconomic challenges facing IMF member countries as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Indeed, her particular skill set — combined with her years of experience at the Fund as Chief Economist - make her uniquely well qualified. She is the right person at the right time," Georgieva said.

A dual citizen of the United States and India, Gopinath is due to start her new role on Jan. 21.