Gita Gopinath is an influential economist known for her role as the First Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). She earned her Ph.D. in economics from Princeton University and has taught at Harvard University for over a decade.

Gopinath's contributions to international finance and macroeconomics at the IMF, particularly during challenging global crises, were lauded by IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva. She had served as a visiting professor at Harvard in 2005.

The move gives the US Treasury a chance to recommend a replacement at a time Trump is reshaping global economy.