Washington, DC — Gita Gopinath, the esteemed First Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), will step down from her position at the end of August 2025, marking the end of a historic chapter in global economic leadership. The IMF announced on Monday that Gopinath will rejoin Harvard University’s Economics Department as the Gregory and Ania Coffey Professor of Economics, a newly established chair honoring her academic and policy excellence.
An Indian-born U.S. citizen, Gopinath made history in 2019 by becoming the IMF’s first female Chief Economist. She rose to the organization’s second-highest post in January 2022, guiding it through some of the most turbulent economic periods in recent history — from the COVID-19 pandemic and global supply chain crises to debt distress in low-income nations and the economic reverberations of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the IMF, hailed Gopinath’s leadership as “a rare combination of brilliance and humility,” commending her for steering the Fund’s research and policy work with clarity during uncertain times. “Gita has played a key role in shaping the Fund’s response to a rapidly evolving global economic landscape,” Georgieva noted.
As Chief Economist, Gopinath oversaw the influential World Economic Outlook, helped shape debt restructuring strategies, and co-authored the IMF’s “Pandemic Plan,” a landmark initiative that set global vaccine targets and facilitated multilateral cooperation during COVID-19. Her work on the Integrated Policy Framework continues to serve as a critical guide for member nations managing capital flows.
Christine Lagarde, former IMF chief and current European Central Bank President, described her as “a class-act economist” whose tenure elevated the institution’s intellectual leadership on key international issues.
In a heartfelt message posted on X (formerly Twitter), Gopinath wrote, “It has been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to serve at the IMF. I now return to my academic roots, grateful for all I’ve learned and excited to help train the next generation of economists.” She will resume her academic duties at Harvard on September 1, 2025.
Harvard University has warmly welcomed her return. David M. Cutler, Dean of Social Science, praised her scholarship for “fundamentally shaping our understanding of exchange rates, capital markets, and the global financial architecture.” He added that Gopinath’s presence will significantly bolster the university’s standing in the field of international macroeconomics.
Her departure comes at a critical time for the IMF, as the global economy grapples with persistent trade tensions and restructuring efforts under the Trump administration. The U.S. Treasury — traditionally influential in nominating the First Deputy Managing Director — has yet to announce potential successors, sparking speculation about the IMF’s future leadership direction.
Beyond the IMF, Gopinath was a respected voice in international policy circles, regularly representing the Fund at G-7 and G-20 meetings. She previously held academic posts at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and earned her Ph.D. in economics from Princeton University. Over the years, she has received numerous honors, including the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leader recognition and India’s prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman.
As Gopinath transitions back into academia, her legacy as a pioneering economist and a guiding force at the IMF will continue to shape global economic thinking. Her return to Harvard marks a full-circle moment — from the corridors of global policymaking back to the classroom, where she aims to push the boundaries of research in international finance and inspire future economic leaders.
