Washington: Gita Gopinath, the First Deputy Managing Director (FDMD) of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), will step down from her position in August 2025 to return to academia at Harvard University, the IMF announced.

Gopinath, a pioneer in international economics, will become the inaugural Gregory and Ania Coffey Professor of Economics at Harvard. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva confirmed Gopinath’s planned departure, noting that a successor will be announced “in due course.”

Gopinath joined the IMF in 2019 as Chief Economist, making history as the first woman to hold the role. Her leadership was especially noted during major global economic crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic and associated macroeconomic turbulence.

In January 2022, she was elevated to First Deputy Managing Director, the IMF’s second-highest role. Reflecting on her nearly seven-year tenure, Gopinath took to X to express her gratitude for serving at one of the world’s most influential financial institutions. “After nearly 7 amazing years at the IMF, I have decided to return to my academic roots. On September 1, 2025, I will rejoin @HarvardEcon as the inaugural Gregory and Ania Coffey Professor of Economics. I am truly grateful for my time at @IMFnews, first as Chief Economist and then as First Deputy Managing Director,” she wrote.

“I have had the privilege of working closely with the IMF’s brilliant and committed staff, colleagues in management, the Executive Board, and country authorities. I am especially thankful to @KGeorgieva and her predecessor, @Lagarde, for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to serve the IMF’s membership during a period of unprecedented challenges. I now return to my roots in academia, where I look forward to continuing to push the research frontier in international finance and macroeconomics to address global challenges, and to training the next generation of economists.”

Before joining the IMF, Gopinath held the position of John Zwaanstra Professor of International Studies and Economics at Harvard University. During her tenure, the IMF took on a key role in shaping the global response to multiple crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain disruptions, debt stress in low-income countries, and the climate finance agenda.

Her successor at the IMF has yet to be named.