Press Release: Statement by IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn on the Death of Jacques Polak

IMF News, February 27, 2010

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Canonical URL: Press Release: Statement by IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn on the Death of Jacques Polak

Press Release No. 10/68
Date of release: February 27, 2010
Mr. Jacques Polak died on February 26, 2010.
Mr. Polak was the last surviving participant in the Bretton Woods Conference in 1944 at which the IMF was created.

“It is with great sadness that I have learned of the passing of Jacques Polak, an iconic figure in the long history of the International Monetary Fund. Jacques's distinguished career as an economist--a career that spanned eight decades--established him as a leader of critical thought during the post-war evolution of the global economy.
“His work on exchange rate policies and the international monetary system following World War II was at the cutting edge of the profession. We have honored Jacques by naming our annual research conference after him. This conference will remain a testament to his service to the IMF and the monetary system.”

Member of the Netherlands delegation to the Bretton Woods Conference in 1944.
Joined the staff of the IMF in 1947.
Served first as Chief of its Statistics Division.
From 1958 to 1980, served as Director of the Research Department.
In 1966, appointed IMF Economic Counsellor.
Retired from the IMF in 1980.
Returned as Executive Director for the Netherlands constituency from 1981 to 1986.

Source: Press Release: Statement by IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn on the Death of Jacques Polak (February 27, 2010).