News Brief No. 02/46

News Brief: IMF Names Anoop Singh to Head Western Hemisphere Department

June 10, 2002

International Monetary Fund Managing Director Horst Köhler announced today his intention to name Anoop Singh as Director of the IMF's Western Hemisphere Department to succeed Claudio Loser, who is retiring later this year. Mr. Singh, who is currently Director for Special Operations, will assume the position of Director-designate of the Western Hemisphere Department until Mr. Loser's retirement.

For the time being, Mr. Singh will continue to hold his current position in Special Operations. By the end of the summer, IMF Management intends to integrate Special Operations into the Fund's organizational structure, and enhance the IMF's capacity in crisis prevention and management.

Mr. Singh, an Indian national, has more than 25 years experience at the IMF. Prior to his appointment as Director for Special Operations in February 2002, he was Deputy Director of the Asia and Pacific Department. He has held a range of senior positions within the IMF, including in the Policy Development and Review Department, and the European Department. Mr. Singh has headed Fund missions to Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, and Thailand.

In the early 1980s, Mr. Singh served as Special Advisor to the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India. In the late 1980s, on secondment from the IMF, he was Senior Advisor to the World Bank's Vice President for the Asia region.

Mr. Köhler, in notifying the IMF Executive Board of his intention to appoint a new Director for the Western Hemisphere¹, noted that Mr. Singh "has extensive experience with the Fund's economic surveillance and country programs. He has demonstrated strong operational and intellectual leadership in a variety of assignments. This background will serve Anoop well as he takes on the challenges of his new position in this critically important region."

The Managing Director praised Mr. Loser's contribution to the IMF: "Claudio Loser has given excellent service to the IMF during his distinguished career at the Fund. I am personally grateful to Claudio for the support he has provided me and for agreeing to work closely with Mr. Singh during the transition period of Anoop's appointment."

Mr. Loser has served as Director of the Western Hemisphere Department since 1994.