Ms. Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), named today Mr. Louis Marc Ducharme to the position of Director, Statistics Department. His appointment will be effective in June 2013. Mr. Ducharme succeeds Ms. Adelheid Burgi-Schmelz, who resigned effective January 23, 2013.

“Louis Marc Ducharme brings to the IMF leadership experience from Statistics Canada--one of the world’s leading statistical agencies--where he has an outstanding record in the strategic planning and management of statistical and analytical programs. This is complemented by extensive work in international technical assistance on statistical programs and organizations. Louis Marc will lead the Fund’s work in serving our members and the public through provision of world-class economic statistics, technical assistance, and statistical methodologies.” Ms. Lagarde said.

Mr. Ducharme, a national of Canada, is a 30-year veteran of Statistics Canada, most recently as Assistant Chief Statistician, managing a staff of over 1,000. He previously held positions of increasing responsibility in the areas of economic statistics, service industries and prices, and has provided extensive technical assistance to a number of countries in Latin America.  He holds a D. Phil. in economics and science policy from the U.K.’s University of Sussex, and master’s and bachelor’s degrees in economics from Canada’s Universit de Montr al.