Stefano Scarpetta has been appointed as the next Chief Economist of the OECD. He will take up his duties on 1 April 2026.
Mr Scarpetta brings an outstanding international reputation as a leading economist, built over more than three decades of distinguished service. Since 2013, he has led the OECD Directorate for Employment, Labour and Social Affairs, where he oversaw landmark initiatives including the OECD Jobs Strategy and strengthened the Organisation's capacity to assess the impact of major structural transformations - including demographic change, digitalisation and artificial intelligence - on labour markets and public services. He also served as sous-sherpa to the G7 and G20 on employment and social policy issues.
As Chief Economist, Mr Scarpetta will lead the OECD Economics Department in delivering rigorous, evidence-based analysis, international benchmarking and country-specific policy advice. The Department's work supports policymakers in fostering sustainable economic growth, expanding employment opportunities and improving living standards across more than 100 countries worldwide.
"Over three decades at the OECD, Stefano has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership, deep expertise in economic analysis and policy with a commitment to advancing the OECD's mission and the collective interests of its members and partners," OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann said.
Mr Scarpetta began his career at the OECD in 1991 and became a Senior Economist in the Economics Department in 1995. From 2002 to 2006, he served at the World Bank as labour market advisor and lead economist before returning to the OECD's Economics Department in 2006. There, he led a division of the Department's country studies branch before taking up successively senior positions in the Directorate he now leads.
An Italian national, Stefano holds a PhD in Economics from the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (EHESS), a Master of Science in Economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a Laurea Summa cum Laude from the University of Rome.
