Press Release No. 00/29

International Monetary Fund (IMF) Acting Managing Director Stanley Fischer has named Flemming Larsen, a national of Denmark, as Director of the IMF's Office in Europe. Mr. Larsen, who currently is the Deputy Director of the IMF's Research Department succeeds Mr. Christian Brachet.

Mr. Larsen joined the IMF in 1985 and has held various positions in the Research Department, where since 1992 he had the senior responsibility for the World Economic Outlook. He was appointed Deputy Director of the Research Department in 1996. Mr. Larsen was educated at the College of Europe and the University of Aarhus. Before joining the IMF, Mr. Larsen worked for the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and Wharton Econometrics. On leave from the IMF, he also worked for the European Commission in Brussels.

The IMF's Office in Europe is situated in Paris. The Office plays a key role in the IMF's efforts to maintain a dialogue with non-governmental organizations and other audiences in Europe. It also serves as a liaison office for the IMF in Europe by maintaining close contact with the institutions of the European Union and with international and regional institutions such as the OECD, the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), and the Group of 10.

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