IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn Names Daniel Citrin as Director of the Office of Budget and Planning

Mr. Dominique Strauss-Kahn, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), announced today his intention to appoint Mr. Daniel Citrin as Director of the Fund’s Office of Budget and Planning (OBP). Mr. Citrin, a UK citizen, will succeed Mr. Siddharth Tiwari, who previously was named Director of the IMF’s Secretary’s Department (see Press Release No. 09/422).

In announcing his decision, Mr. Strauss-Kahn underscored the evolving role of OBP in helping set the strategic direction of the IMF. “I plan for OBP to have an increasingly important role in helping to guide strategic thinking for the institution, in particular with regard to the best use of our resources to support the evolving role of the Fund in the coming years,” he stated. “We received many external applications, but after careful review, it seems clear to me that no candidate has a decisive advantage that would compensate for a lack of knowledge of the Fund. And of the internal candidates, I believe that Mr. Citrin has the experience and skills to address the challenges of this position.”

Mr. Citrin, who currently serves as Director of the Office of the Managing Director, joined the IMF in 1982. The Managing Director noted that he “has had a long and outstanding career in the Fund, and during the last year, when he worked with me every day as the head of my office, I have seen him thinking strategically on a wide range of questions that have confronted the institution. “ Prior to 2008, Mr. Citrin served as Deputy Director of the Asia and Pacific Department for four years, during which time he handled systemic surveillance issues, program country matters, as well as a range of budget and administrative issues.

He has extensive experience in country matters beyond Asia, including the IMF’s early work with Russia in the 1990s, and Mr. Citrin has worked closely with the Fund’s management, including as advisor to then First Deputy Managing Director Stanley Fischer for several years prior to his appointment as Deputy Director in the Asia Pacific Department. “In sum, I am confident that his experience and talents will enable him to work very effectively with Executive Directors, management, and staff, building consensus on the complex problems he will no doubt have to deal with,” the Managing Director stated.  

Mr. Citrin holds a B.A. in economics from the University of California at Berkeley and a Masters and Ph.D. candidacy in economics from the University of Michigan. He grew up in Tokyo, and is fluent in Japanese.