Prominent Indian economist Kalpana Kochhar, who heads the Human Resources Department of the IMF, is retiring next month after serving for over three decades with the organisation to join the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Kochhar, who served in various senior positions during her three decades at the International Monetary Fund, will retire on July 30, and will join as Director of Development Policy and Finance, at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the IMF announced on Wednesday. As Director of Human Resources, Kochhar oversaw the IMF's HR policies and the recruitment and retention of more than 4,000 IMF employees from nearly 150 countries based in Washington, DC, and in overseas offices.

As Deputy Director in the Asia and Pacific Department (APD), she was responsible for setting up and executing the IMF's strategy for Asia, including guiding analytical work and policy advice to a number of Asian countries to help promote economic growth, financial stability, and gender equality.

As Deputy Director in the Strategy, Policy, and Review Department (SPR), she led research and policy formulation on gender equity, income inequality, jobs and growth, and structural reforms. In SPR, she also oversaw a comprehensive review of the IMF's surveillance policy and practices aimed at enhancing engagement with the member countries. Before these roles, Kochhar was Assistant Director and Senior Personnel Manager in the Research Department.

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