After a distinguished career spanning over three decades, Liberian icon Antoinette Sayeh is set to retire as Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on September 12, 2024.
Her departure marks the end of an era, as she leaves behind a legacy of dedication, integrity, and tireless advocacy for low-income and fragile countries.
“Antoinette has been a pillar of the Fund’s leadership team for many years. Her incredible experience, deep integrity, and wise judgment have been invaluable to us, and her unwavering commitment to our institution has been truly exemplary,” IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said in a statement.
Throughout her tenure, Sayeh has been a driving force behind key reforms and policy changes, including the IMF’s concessional financing, debt, and capacity development policies.
Her leadership and expertise have been instrumental in shaping the institution’s relationship with its member countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.
As the first woman to lead an IMF regional department, Sayeh’s appointment as Director of the African Department in 2008 was a historic milestone.
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During her tenure, she oversaw a major transformation of the institution’s engagement with its African members, fostering a deeper understanding of the region’s challenges and opportunities.
“A strong advocate for changes that enabled the IMF to provide emergency financing and debt relief to the three African countries hit by the Ebola crisis in 2014,” the IMF noted in a media update.
Sayeh’s unwavering commitment to the well-being of the people and staff has earned her a reputation as a mentor, advisor, and coach to many.
Before joining the IMF, Sayeh served as Minister of Finance in post-conflict Liberia from 2006 to 2008, leading the country through debt clearance and economic recovery.
Her experience in Liberia and at the World Bank Group, where she worked for 17 years, has equipped her with a unique understanding of the challenges facing low-income and fragile countries.
As Sayeh prepares to bid farewell to the IMF, her legacy will continue to inspire future generations of leaders and economists.
“Antoinette demonstrates that rare combination of institutional leadership, deep analytical capacity, unparalleled ethical standards, and sound judgment,” Georgieva added. “She will be greatly missed.”
