Contributor(s): Pier Carlo Padoan | Pier Carlo Padoan was appointed minister of economy and finance in the Italian Government led by Matteo Renzi on 24 February 2014. Mr Padoan was professor of economics at the University La Sapienza of Rome, and director of the Fondazione Italianieuropei, a policy think-tank focusing on economic and social issues. On 1 June 2007 Mr Padoan was appointed deputy secretary-general of the OECD. As of 1 December 2009 he was also appointed chief economist while retaining his role as deputy secretary-general. In addition to heading the Economics Department, Mr Padoan was the G20 finance deputy for the OECD and has also lead the Strategic Response, the Green Growth and Innovation initiatives of the Organisation. From 2001 to 2005, Mr Padoan was the Italian executive director at the International Monetary Fund, with responsibility for Greece, Portugal, San Marino, Albania and Timor Leste. He served as a member of the Board and chaired a number of Board Committees. During his mandate at the IMF he was also in charge of European Co-ordination. From 1998 to 2001, Mr Padoan served as economic adviser to the Italian Prime Ministers, Massimo D’Alema and Giuliano Amato, in charge of international economic policies. He was responsible for coordinating the Italian position in the Agenda 2000 negotiations for the EU budget, Lisbon Agenda, European Council, bilateral meetings, and G8 Summits. He has been a consultant to the World Bank, European Commission, European Central Bank. Mr Padoan has a degree in economics from the University of Rome and has held various academic positions in Italian and foreign universities, including the College of Europe (Bruges and Warsaw), Université Libre de Bruxelles, University of Urbino, Universidad de la Plata, and University of Tokyo. He has published widely in international academic journals and is the author and editor of several books.