The International Monetary Fund has named Indian national Krishna Srinivasan as Director of the Asia Pacific Department. His work in the new role commences on 22 June.

Srinivasan is a long-standing official at the agency, having served as Deputy Director prior to the appointment. IMF's Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said he is a "highly regarded member of [the] Fund family" who has made "many important and innovative contributions" to the agency's mission. He joined the IMF in 1994 as part of the Economist Program. 

Before taking over from current APAC Director Changyong Rhee, who announced retirement plans in March, Srinivasan was assigned to oversee developments in major economies, such as China, South Korea, Hong Kong SAR, Mongolia, and many Pacific Island countries.

Prior to focusing on Asia Pacific, he was Deputy Director in the Western Hemisphere Department, monitoring the economies of Brazil, Canada, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, and the Caribbean. He also worked in the European Department as IMF mission chief for the UK and Israel, as well as in the IMF's Research Department, contributing to studies on the G20.

Srinivasan was also co-editor of two recent books: "Brazil: Boom, Bust and the Road to Recovery" and "Unleashing Growth and Strengthening Resilience in the Caribbean".  He edited the IMF book "Global Rebalancing: A Roadmap for Economic Recovery". 

"This range of work and experiences is reflective of his career during which he has worked on the full spectrum of the Fund’s membership from low-income countries, to emerging markets, and advanced economies," Georgieva said.

"Over the years, he has built an outstanding reputation as a first-rate collaborator and trusted advisor in his relationships with Fund colleagues and country authorities alike. He is known for fostering an open dialogue as the way to building strong relationships and achieving traction with country authorities."

Srinivasan earned a PhD in International Finance from Indiana University and a post-graduate degree from the Delhi School of Economics, India.