Press Release No. 08/162

Press Release No. 08/162

Mr. Dominique Strauss-Kahn, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), announced today his intention to appoint Ms. Adelheid Burgi-Schmelz as the Director of the Fund's Statistics Department. Ms. Burgi-Schmelz has been serving as Director General of the Swiss Federal Statistics Office since 2002.

"I am very pleased that Adelheid has agreed to join us at the Fund," said Mr. Strauss-Kahn. "She brings a high level of personal energy and dynamism, as well as a unique combination of skills and experience in the field of statistics, which is so vital to the work of the IMF."

Mr. Strauss-Kahn noted that Ms. Burgi-Schmelz is a leader within the international statistical community and brings with her extensive public and private sector experience. Among other assignments, he noted that the United Nations Statistical Commission recently appointed her to chair a task force on Integrated Economic Statistics. She has also worked in the private sector with ASCOM Corporation in Berne.

As Director of the Fund's Statistics Department, Ms. Burgi-Schmelz will succeed Mr. Rob Edwards, who had previously announced his retirement. She is expected to take up her new position with the IMF on October 31, 2008.