Kristalina Georgieva

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13 August 1953
Kristalina Georgieva (born in Sofia) is a Bulgarian economist who became the 12th Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on 1 October 20…
1 October 2019
Kristalina Georgieva (born 13 August 1953 in Sofia) is a Bulgarian economist who became the 12th Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) o…
1 October 2024
In 2024 the IMF Executive Board reappointed her to a second five-year term beginning , during which she ran unopposed.

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In March 2023, Kristalina Georgieva announced IMF Staff-Level Agreement on a $15.6 billion four-year loan program for Ukraine, the first major IMF program for a country at war.

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Timeline

13 August 1953

Kristalina Georgieva (born in Sofia) is a Bulgarian economist who became the 12th Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on 1 October 20…

1 October 2019

Kristalina Georgieva (born 13 August 1953 in Sofia) is a Bulgarian economist who became the 12th Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) o…

1 October 2024

In 2024 the IMF Executive Board reappointed her to a second five-year term beginning , during which she ran unopposed.

Research it like a delegate

Kristalina Georgieva (born 13 August 1953 in Sofia) is a Bulgarian economist who became the 12th Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on 1 October 2019, succeeding Christine Lagarde. In 2024 the IMF Executive Board reappointed her to a second five-year term beginning 1 October 2024, during which she ran unopposed.

Before leading the IMF, Georgieva spent most of her career at the World Bank, joining in 1993 and rising to Vice President and Corporate Secretary, then Vice President for Sustainable Development. She served as CEO of the World Bank from January 2017 to September 2019 and briefly as interim President in 2019 between the departure of Jim Yong Kim and the arrival of David Malpass.

She also held senior posts in the European Commission under José Manuel Barroso and Jean-Claude Juncker, serving as Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response (2010–2014) and as Vice-President for Budget and Human Resources (2014–2016). In 2010 MEPs named her "European of the Year" for her handling of crises including the Haiti earthquake response.

Her IMF tenure has been defined by:

The COVID-19 economic response, including expanded emergency financing and a historic $650 billion Special Drawing Rights (SDR) allocation approved in August 2021.
Debt distress in low-income countries and engagement with the G20 Common Framework.
Financing programs for Ukraine (a $15.6 billion Extended Fund Facility approved in March 2023) and Argentina.
A push to integrate climate change and digital money into IMF surveillance, including creation of the Resilience and Sustainability Trust in 2022.

In 2021 an independent review commissioned by the World Bank examined allegations that, while CEO, she pressured staff to alter data in the "Doing Business 2018" report to favor China. Georgieva denied wrongdoing, and the IMF Executive Board expressed "full confidence" in her leadership after its own review.

Frequently asked questions

When did Kristalina Georgieva become IMF Managing Director?

She took office on 1 October 2019 and was reappointed for a second term starting 1 October 2024.

What was her role before the IMF?

She served as Chief Executive Officer of the World Bank from January 2017 to September 2019, including a stint as interim President in early 2019.

Is she the first non-European to lead the IMF?

No. By convention the IMF is led by a European, and Georgieva, a Bulgarian, continues that tradition; she is, however, the first MD from an emerging-market economy.

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Frequently asked questions

When did Kristalina Georgieva become IMF Managing Director?

What was her role before the IMF?

Is she the first non-European to lead the IMF?

Go deeper than the definition

Take Kristalina Georgieva beyond the glossary

Frequently asked questions

When did Kristalina Georgieva become IMF Managing Director?

What was her role before the IMF?

Is she the first non-European to lead the IMF?