Silvana Tenreyro Named IMF Chief Economist

Silvana Tenreyro will step into the role of chief economist at the International Monetary Fund on August 10, succeeding Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva announced the appointment on Tuesday, citing the need for seasoned intellectual leadership to navigate today's increasingly volatile global economic landscape.

Editorial·July 8, 2026·reads: 627

Silvana Tenreyro Named IMF Chief Economist

Tenreyro, who holds citizenship in Argentina, Italy, and Britain, arrives at the Fund with a track record spanning both academia and central banking. She served as an external member of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee between 2017 and 2023 and held professorial duties at the London School of Economics. Her professional history also includes stints at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and the Bank of Mauritius.

Georgieva highlighted that Tenreyro’s background in monetary policy transmission, currency unions, and economic volatility is vital for the IMF. The institution currently faces a confluence of pressures, ranging from the long-tail economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic to shifting U.S. trade tariffs and escalating geopolitical friction.