Washington, DC: Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), announced today her intention to appoint Mr. Christian Mumssen as Director of the Strategy, Policy, and Review Department (SPR). Mr. Mumssen, who succeeds Ms. Ceyla Pazarbasioglu, will assume his new role on November 3, 2025.
Mr. Mumssen, a German national, brings to the role nearly three decades of experience in international financial institutions. Since joining the Fund in 1999, he has made important contributions on country work and policy issues in a wide range of positions. In his current role as Deputy Director of SPR, he oversees several policy areas, including the IMF's precautionary and concessional lending facilities, external sector analysis and policies, and the Global Financial Safety Net.
Mr. Mumssen previously served as Chief of Staff in the Office of the Managing Director, Deputy Director of the Finance Department, and Director of the IMF Europe Office in Brussels/Paris and Senior Resident Representative to the European Union. As Division Chief in SPR, he led a comprehensive reform of the IMF's concessional lending facilities and oversaw low-income country strategy and review. Mr. Mumssen also has extensive country experience, working as mission chief and desk economist on program and surveillance cases across low-income, emerging, and advanced economies in Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. Prior to the IMF, he served as Principal Economist in the Office of the Chief Economist at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
"Christian's deep institutional knowledge, strategic acumen, creativity, and sound judgment have helped us navigate many complex challenges over the past years," said Ms. Georgieva. "I am delighted that he will now bring these qualities to lead SPR. At a time of when the world economy is in flux and many of our members face significant economic challenges, SPR's central role in guiding the institution is more important than ever," Ms. Georgieva added. "I am confident that, under Christian's leadership, the department will continue to deliver world-class value to our institution and to our membership."
Mr. Mumssen studied economics at the University of Freiburg, the University of Wisconsin, and holds a Masters in Economics from the London School of Economics (LSE), as well as a Doctorate in Economics from the University of Oxford.
