IMF's Gita Gopinath to Return to Harvard as Professor

Gita Gopinath, the IMF's No. 2 official, will leave her post at the end of August to return to Harvard University as a professor of economics. The IMF will name a successor in due course. Gopinath was promoted to first deputy managing director in January 2022 and has overseen the fund's analytical and policy work. She is grateful for the "once in a lifetime opportunity" to work at the IMF and looks forward to continuing her research and training the next generation of economists.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced that Gita Gopinath, the First Deputy Managing Director (FDMD), will be leaving the organization at the end of August to return to Harvard University. Gopinath will join the university as the inaugural Gregory and Ania Coffey Professor of Economics, marking her return to academia after a distinguished tenure at the IMF [1].

Gopinath, who was appointed as the IMF's Chief Economist in January 2019 and promoted to FDMD in January 2022, has played a pivotal role in the Fund's analytical and policy work. Under her leadership, the IMF's World Economic Outlook has remained a leading report on the global economy, particularly during the challenging period of the COVID-19 pandemic [3]. She also spearheaded the Integrated Policy Framework (IPF), which provides a robust analytical framework for macroeconomic and financial stability [1].

Gopinath's departure opens the door for President Donald Trump to appoint a successor, as the position is typically nominated by the US and appointed by the IMF's Managing Director [2]. The IMF expects to name a new FDMD in due course [1].

Gopinath expressed gratitude for her time at the IMF and looked forward to continuing her research and training the next generation of economists at Harvard. "It has been an opportunity of a lifetime to work with my incredible colleagues at the IMF and to serve the global community," she said [3].

The IMF's Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva, praised Gopinath's contributions, highlighting her analytical rigor and practical policy advice during a period of significant global challenges [1]. Gopinath's departure is seen as a loss for the Fund but a gain for Harvard and its students and faculty who will benefit from her extensive experience and knowledge [3].

References:
[1] https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/07/21/pr25257-1st-deputy-md-gita-gopinath-to-leave-the-imf-to-rejoin-harvard-econ-faculty
[2] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-21/imf-deputy-gita-gopinath-set-to-depart-in-opening-for-trump
[3] https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/newsplus/gita-gopinath-returns-to-economics-faculty-after-historic-imf-leadership/