Rhoda Weeks-Brown to Retire as IMF General Counsel and Director of Legal Department
Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), has announced that Rhoda Weeks-Brown will retire from her role as General Counsel and Director of the Legal Department on September 30, 2024.
Rhoda Weeks-Brown, the IMF’s first female General Counsel and the first to come from a developing country, has been a cornerstone of the Fund’s senior leadership since her appointment in 2018.
“Rhoda has been an exemplary leader and advocate for diversity and inclusion,” Georgieva said. “Her leadership, skills, and dedication have greatly shaped the IMF’s approach to legal and policy matters.”
Over her 27-year tenure, Weeks-Brown, a Liberian national, made significant contributions to key initiatives, including the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI), the overhaul of the Fund’s General Resources Account (GRA) lending toolkit, and the creation of a new income model for the IMF.
She also played a vital role in governance reforms and policy on capital flows. Her versatility was evident in her previous role as Deputy Director of the IMF’s Communications Department, where she managed communications across Asia, Africa, and Europe.
Since becoming General Counsel, Weeks-Brown has guided the IMF through major policy and administrative reforms, including those necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
She led the establishment of the Resilience and Sustainability Trust (RST), the largest Special Drawing Right (SDR) allocation in the Fund’s history, and was instrumental in integrating climate and gender policies into the Fund’s framework.
Her work on the Institutional Safeguards Review (ISR) aimed to enhance internal safeguards and governance at the IMF.
“Rhoda’s analytical acumen, legal expertise, and passionate advocacy for good governance and anti-corruption measures have been invaluable,” Georgieva added. “Her guidance, care, and friendship will be deeply missed.”
Weeks-Brown’s retirement marks the end of a distinguished career that has left a lasting impact on the IMF’s operations and policies, reflecting her commitment to improving the lives of people in member countries through effective governance and legal frameworks.
