Gita Gopinath's Surprising Departure from IMF

Gita Gopinath, the second-in-command at the International Monetary Fund, is set to exit her position this August to resume her academic career at Harvard University, as confirmed by an IMF statement on Monday. The organization's Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva, will appoint a replacement for Gopinath in due time.

Breaking new ground as the first female chief economist of the IMF in 2019, Gopinath climbed the ranks to become the first deputy managing director in January 2022. The news of her move came as a surprise to many within the IMF, suggesting a personal decision by Gopinath.

Gopinath's pivot back to academia will coincide with a transitional moment for the U.S. Treasury, set to recommend her successor while President Trump pursues an overhaul of international trade policies. Celebrated for steering the IMF through significant economic challenges, Gopinath's influential tenure included confronting the Covid-19 pandemic and geopolitical tensions caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

(With inputs from agencies.)