With a proven track record in managing complex work programmes, Indian economist Siddharth Tiwari

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has been named as the Secretary of the IMF by its Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn.

Tiwari, currently Director of the Office of Budget and Planning, is set to assume the position, which was held by Shailendra Anjaria before his retirement from the IMF earlier this year.

"Mr Tiwari has the experience and skills" to promote consensus building, which is a critical goal of the IMF Board and Management, Strauss-Kahn said in a statement.

"He is widely respected throughout the institution. He has a proven track record in managing a complex work programme, in particular as Director of the Office of Budget and Planning during a very difficult time for the institution," he said.

In the Secretary's position, he will play a role that involves active work with the International Monetary Fund's Executive Board and its daily interactions with Management and staff.

Tiwari, with a more than 20-year career at the IMF, holds a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Delhi, a Master's from the London School of Economics, and a doctorate in economics from the University of Chicago.

A search for his successor at the Office of Budget and Planning is currently underway, a media release said.