By Peter OBIORA InvestAdvocate

Lagos (INVESTADVOCATE)-The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Friday announced the appointment of Vitor Gaspar as the Fund’s Director of Fiscal Affairs Department.

In a statement from the IMF and made available to InvestAdvocate, Christine Lagarde, Managing Director (MD) of the Fund today named Gaspar to the position of Director, Fiscal Affairs Department.

The IMF said Gaspar’s appointment is expected to be effective in early June. He will succeed Carlo Cottarelli, who resigned from the IMF last year.

Gaspar brings with him impressive management credentials and a formidable record of public policy experience at the European and national levels,” Lagarde said.

The IMF chief said herself and management team look forward to working with Gaspar on public finance matters and in providing vital fiscal policy advice to our member countries.

Gaspar, a Portuguese national, has held a variety of senior policy positions in Banco de Portugal, including most recently as Special Adviser. He served as Minister of State and Finance of Portugal during 2011-2013. He was acting director-general of the European Commission’s Bureau of European Policy Advisers during 2007-2010 and director-general of general research at the European Central Bank from 1998-2004.

He holds a Ph.D and a post-doctoral agregado in Economics from Universidade Nova de Lisboa; he also studied at Universidade Católica Portuguesa.