Gita Gopinath to become IMF number two

The IMF's high-profile chief economist Gita Gopinath next month will become the number two official, .the fund announced Thursday. Gopinath will succeed Geoffrey Okamoto as first deputy managing director, serving under IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva -- the first time two women have held the top leadership roles. Georgieva call Gopinath "the right person at the right time" to take the leadership role."Especially given that the pandemic has led to an increase in the scale and scope of the macroeconomic challenges facing our member countries, I believe that Gita -- universally recognized as one of the world's leading macroeconomists -- has precisely the expertise that we need for the FDMD role at this point," Georgieva said in the statement. The economist, who leads the IMF team that produces the closely-watched quarterly World Economic Outlook, became a much more visible figure during the Covid-19 pandemic. Ina tweet, Gopinath thanked the  Fund. 

I am honored to become the IMF’s First Deputy Managing Director. With the pandemic, the work of the Fund has never been more important. I look forward to working with my brilliant colleagues to help our membership face these important challenges.https://t.co/jpp3C7dRog

— Gita Gopinath (@GitaGopinath) December 2, 2021

Gopinath, who was appointed to her current role in October 2018, was due to return to her position at Harvard University in January but will now leave the university. She was born in India but also is a US citizen.