The International Monetary Fund on Tuesday announced the appointment of former Liberian Finance minister Antoinette Sayeh as its deputy managing director.
The appointment of Sayeh takes effect from March 16, subject to the Executive board’s approval, according to a statement by IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva.
Sayeh, currently a Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Center for Global Development (CGD), becomes the first African to be appointed to the position since 1999.
Georgieva welcomed Sayeh’s appointment.
“Antoinette demonstrates a rare combination of institutional leadership, deep analytical capacity, and an unwavering commitment to fairness. I have always been impressed by her genuine care for the well-being of the people we serve and her ability to place them front and center in our efforts,” Georgieva said.
Sayeh was Minister of Finance in the administration of Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf between January 2006 and June 2008. Through her leadership, Liberia was able to service its long-standing multilateral debt arrears. Prior to that, she spent 17 years at the World Bank Group in a number of senior positions.
Sayeh has also previously served as Director of the IMF’s African Department between 2008 and 2016 where she is credited with transforming the IMF’s relationship with its African members.
