Press Release No. 07/169

Press Release: IMF Names Siddharth Tiwari To Head Office of Budget and Planning

July 26, 2007

International Monetary Fund Managing Director Rodrigo de Rato has appointed Siddharth Tiwari as Director of the IMF's Office of Budget and Planning (OBP) to succeed Barry Potter, who will be assuming the position of Director of the IMF's Office at the United Nations. Mr. Tiwari's appointment is effective mid-August.

Mr. Tiwari, an Indian national, has 21 years of experience in the IMF, including in three country departments: Asia and Pacific Department, European Department, and African Department; in the Policy Development and Review Department; and as a resident representative in Russia. He was also Head of Immediate Office for former Managing Director Horst Köhler as well as Advisor to former Deputy Managing Director Shigemitsu Sugisaki. He is currently Deputy Director in the African Department. Mr. Tiwari holds degrees from the University of Delhi, the London School of Economics and a doctorate in economics from the University of Chicago.

Mr. de Rato, in notifying the IMF Executive Board of his intention to appoint a new Director for the Office of Budget and Planning, said that Mr. Tiwari was notable "in each of the core competencies important for this job — strategic thinking, leadership, vision, clear understanding of institutional priorities and constraints and communication skills." He also added that Mr. Tiwari has a "proven ability both to develop a strong policy agenda and to manage a complex operational work program."