Poul Mathias Thomsen Explained

Poul M. Thomsen
Office:	European Department, International Monetary Fund
President:	Christine Lagarde David Lipton Kristalina Georgieva
Term Start:	November 2014
Term End:	July 2020
Successor:	Alfred Kammer
Birth Date:	1955
Birth Place:	Aabenraa

Poul Mathias Thomsen (born 1955, in Aabenraa) is a Danish economist working for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) since the 1980s. He served as the director of the IMF's European Department.^[1] He led the bailouts of Iceland, Greece, Portugal and Ukraine during and after the Great Recession.^[2]

He retired from the IMF in July 2020.^[3]

Reception in Europe

Greece

He was referred as "Mr Blue Eyes" on Greek press. Because of his strict and debatable financial tactics (as he insisted on implementing more taxes and cutting pensions and salaries), and, especially, accusations that such imposed measures actually prolonged the country's debt crisis, he became one of the most repugnant persons in Greece.^[4]

He also raised concern on the Greek press on the amount of his pension that will receive as he retires in July.^[5]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Poul Mathias Thomsen. IMF. en. 2020-02-04.
2. Web site: Meet One of the Most Hated Men in Greece. Bloomberg.com. 2016-08-19.
3. Web site: IMF European Department head to retire in July. www.aninews.in. en. 2020-02-04.
4. Web site: ΙΝ . Σύνταξη . 2020-02-04 . Μας αποχαιρετά ο «Mr Blue Eyes», ο πιο μισητός άνθρωπος στην Ελλάδα . 2023-06-17 . in.gr . el.
5. https://www.newsit.gr/kosmos/pol-tomsen-petsokove-syntakseis-gia-xronia-kai-tha-parei-syntaksara-sta-65/2968709/ Πολ Τόμσεν: “Πετσόκοβε” συντάξεις για χρόνια και θα πάρει… συνταξάρα στα 65!