Masood Ahmed has been President Emeritus of CGD since July 2024. He joined the Center in 2017, capping a 35-year career driving economic development policy initiatives relating to debt, aid effectiveness, trade, and global economic prospects at major international institutions including the IMF, World Bank, and DFID. Prior to CGD, he served for eight years as director, Middle East and Central Asia Department at the IMF, where he oversaw the Fund's operations in 32 countries, and managed relationships with key policymakers and stakeholders. Ahmed also served as Director General, Policy and International at the UK government's Department for International Development (DFID), where he advised UK ministers on development issues and oversaw the UK's relationship with global development institutions. At the World Bank, Ahmed served in a variety of operational and policy positions, including Vice President for Poverty Reduction and Economic Management in which role he oversaw the design and launch of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative and the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) approach.