The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has appointed former Bank of England policymaker Silvana Tenreyro as its next Economic Counsellor and Director of the Research Department, placing a seasoned monetary economist at the helm of the institution’s economic analysis as the global economy grapples with heightened uncertainty.
Silvana Tenreyro will assume the role on August 10, 2026, succeeding Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas, who recently returned to academia after serving as the Fund’s chief economist.
Announcing the appointment, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said Tenreyro’s blend of academic excellence and policymaking experience would strengthen the Fund’s role in shaping global economic policy.
“I am delighted to announce that Silvana Tenreyro will join the Fund as our next Chief Economist,” Georgieva said.
She added: “Silvana is a globally respected economist who combines outstanding academic achievements with extensive policy making experience and a close engagement with leading international institutions. At a time of profound transformation and heightened uncertainty in the global economy, Silvana’s mix of intellectual leadership and policy experience will help ensure that the Fund’s analytical work and multilateral surveillance and policy advice will remain at the cutting edge in support of our membership.”
Tenreyro joins the IMF from the London School of Economics, where she has served as the James E. Meade Professor of Economics since 2004. Her research on international trade, monetary policy and macroeconomics has earned several international distinctions, while she has also held leadership roles within the global economics profession.
Beyond academia, she brings extensive central banking experience, having served as an external member of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee between 2017 and 2023.
Earlier in her career, she worked at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and served on the Bank of Mauritius’ Monetary Policy Committee. She is also a member of the IMF Managing Director’s External Advisory Group.
Georgieva said Tenreyro’s leadership and communication skills would further strengthen the IMF’s policy influence.
“She is also known for her ability to communicate complex economic issues with clarity and precision and fosters constructive dialogue across diverse audiences. These qualities will serve her well as one of the Fund’s principal voices on the global economic outlook and as the leader of the Research Department.”
An Argentine, British and Italian national, Tenreyro holds a doctorate and master’s degree in economics from Harvard University and a bachelor’s degree in economics from the National University of Tucumán in Argentina.
She will oversee the IMF’s research agenda and lead the production of its flagship economic outlooks, which guide policymakers and financial markets worldwide.
