The first press conference held by Christine Legarde as new head of the International Monetary Fund focused on the future and goals of the IMF, aspects of IMF management, and global economic stability.
Her two goals for the IMF are for the organization to be more diverse and to improve its legitimacy. Diversity is not only about gender, said the institution’s first female chief, but about it “including and not excluding, about breaking down the barriers and removing the obstacles so all participants can be on the table.” The governance and quotas of the IMF should reflect and represent the current world.
“My management style is about opening up, reaching out, engaging people, and working as a team,” stated Legarde. “We have to pull the institution together.”
Many media organizations present at the press conference asked her questions about how she would differ from her predecessors in terms of leadership. Would the fact that she is the first woman to direct the IMF have an impact? Would her political allegiances impact her stance?
Although she evaded giving a specific response, she said that if there are things that the fund has done for many years only out of habit, and they are not providing anything of use, she will drop them and instead focus the immense resources of the IMF on more pertinent causes.
Legarde has promised to diversify her staff, in addition to making the IMF more responsive to developing nations.
One of the big issues covered in Legarde’s speech is the problem of the sovereign debt crisis across the globe, especially in the eurozone and Greece.
She said her intention is to restore the competitiveness of Greece and she has placed the goal high on the IMF’s agenda.
The IMF is there to serve and provide services to its 187 members, she said, adding that the institution is there to help restore stability where there is no stability “and there is plenty of that around.”
Her two goals for the IMF are for the organization to be more diverse and to improve its legitimacy. Diversity is not only about gender, said the institution’s first female chief, but about it “including and not excluding, about breaking down the barriers and removing the obstacles so all participants can be on the table.” The governance and quotas of the IMF should reflect and represent the current world.
“My management style is about opening up, reaching out, engaging people, and working as a team,” stated Legarde. “We have to pull the institution together.”
Many media organizations present at the press conference asked her questions about how she would differ from her predecessors in terms of leadership. Would the fact that she is the first woman to direct the IMF have an impact? Would her political allegiances impact her stance?
Although she evaded giving a specific response, she said that if there are things that the fund has done for many years only out of habit, and they are not providing anything of use, she will drop them and instead focus the immense resources of the IMF on more pertinent causes.
Legarde has promised to diversify her staff, in addition to making the IMF more responsive to developing nations.
One of the big issues covered in Legarde’s speech is the problem of the sovereign debt crisis across the globe, especially in the eurozone and Greece.
She said her intention is to restore the competitiveness of Greece and she has placed the goal high on the IMF’s agenda.
The IMF is there to serve and provide services to its 187 members, she said, adding that the institution is there to help restore stability where there is no stability “and there is plenty of that around.”
