H.E. Jihad Azour has led the IMF’s Middle East and Central Asia Department since March 2017, overseeing programs across 32 countries. He served as Lebanon’s Minister of Finance (2005–2008), implementing tax and customs reforms and modernizing fiscal systems. Azour previously held senior roles at McKinsey and Booz & Co. and was Managing Partner at Inventis Partners. He holds a Ph.D. in International Finance and a postgraduate degree in Economics from Sciences Po Paris, and conducted research at Harvard as a post-doctoral fellow. Azour has authored books and articles on economic policy and taught extensively. His priorities at the IMF include promoting fiscal sustainability, structural reforms, and regional economic resilience amid global challenges.