IMF Appoints Harvard’s Gita Gopinath as Chief Economist

The International Monetary Fund appointed Harvard University’s Gita Gopinath as its new chief economist.

Ms. Gopinath, one of the leading scholars in exchange rates, sovereign debt and capital flows, will be the first woman to lead the IMF’s economic research department. She will take over from Maurice Obstfeld, who had previously announced his retirement.

“Gita is one of the world’s outstanding economists, with impeccable academic credentials, a proven track record of intellectual leadership, and extensive international experience,” IMF managing director Christine Lagarde said. “All this makes her exceptionally well-placed to lead our Research Department at this important juncture.”

Ms. Gopinath, 46 years old, has emerged as one of the leading thinkers on the global financial system, presenting her research at the Fed’s Jackson Hole, Wyo., symposium and working as co-editor of the American Economic Review, one of the most prestigious journals in the field of economics. The IMF said she has written 40 research papers on exchange rates, trade and investment, international financial crises, monetary policy, debt, and emerging-market crises.