Rodrigo de Rato

Former Director General of the IMF and Vice President of Spain

Managing Director of the IMF (2004-2007), and former Vice President for Economic Affairs and Minister of Economy for the Government of Spain from 1996 until 2004, Rodrigo de Rato is one of the most prestigious personalities on the international scene, responsible for Spain’s prosperity and stability in the past ten years, with economic measures such as the introduction of the Euro.

Mr. de Rato has a PhD in Economy and studied Law at Madrid’s Complutense University and Business Administration at the University of California, Berkley before becoming Secretary General of the Popular Parliamentary Group.

In his capacity as Minister of Economy, Mr. de Rato was at the helm of the Spanish economy for eight years and is considered by many to have played a major part in Spain’s recent economic growth being. During that period he was also Governor for Spain on the Boards of Governors of the IMF, the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, the European Investment Bank, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. He regularly attended the European Union's Economics and Finance Ministers meetings, and represented the EU at the Group of Seven Finance Ministers meeting in Ottawa, Canada, in 2002, when Spain held the EU Presidency of the Ministers Council in occasion of the birth of the Euro.

During his duty at the IMF, from 2004 to 2007, he promoted a strong international financial system, as well as a decided fight against poverty in order to respond effectively to the challenges of globalisation and to increase the role of the IMF in emergent economies throughout the world.

His concern and interest in undeveloped countries is focused to reach better conditions of the poorest people in the world and this effort have been very well considered by a great number of world leaders.

Mr. de Rato captivates audiences with a rich personality and great communication skills, as well as his unquestionable knowledge of the world economy and markets, that make him one of the most requested international speakers.