He is among prominent individuals appointed by IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva to serve on a new Advisory Council on Entrepreneurship and Growth.
Council members are expected to share their views and experiences on how entrepreneurship and productivity can be promoted by macroeconomic and financial policies.
Ostensibly, the goal is to identify policies that will improve resource allocation, foster innovation and boost private sector-led economic growth.
The council had its maiden meeting a few days ago.
“The medium-term outlook for world economic growth is at its lowest in several decades,” said Ms. Georgieva in a release. “Much of the slowdown can be attributed to declining productivity growth,” she added. “The Council brings together a group of leading thinkers and practitioners in business, finance, academia, and policymaking to share their views and experiences on how macroeconomic and financial policies can provide a supportive environment for innovation, entrepreneurship, and productivity—key ingredients for a thriving private sector and strong economic growth,” she said.
The Council’s confirmed members thus far are:
Professor Ufuk Akcigit, Arnold C. Harberger Professor of Economics, University of Chicago.
HRH Ambassador Reema Bandar Al-Saud, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the United States of America.
Mr. Marc Benioff, Chair, CEO, and Co-Founder of Salesforce.
Ms. Ana Botín, Executive Chair, Banco Santander.
Mr. Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Chairman, Tata Group.
Ms. Margherita Della Valle, Chief Executive, Vodafone Group.
Mr. Tony O. Elumelu, Founder and Chairman, Heirs Holdings.
Mr. Robert Smith, Founder, Chairman and CEO, Vista Equity Partners.
Mr. Federico Sturzenegger, Argentine Minister of Deregulation and State Transformation.
The IMF Managing Director’s Advisory Council will meet approximately once every three months in structured discussions under Chatham House rules.