Michel Camdessus (born 1933) was appointed Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 1987. Prior to his position with the IMF, Camdessus pursued a financial career in France's political arena.

Michel Camdessus was born in Bayonne, France, on May 1, 1933 and has had a brilliant political career in international finance for more than 35 years. Camdessus followed the typical path for a brilliant young Frenchman by first studying at the University of Paris, then earning postgraduate degrees in economics at the Institute of Political Studies of Paris and the prestigious National School of Administration. He married Brigitte d'Arcy and they have six children.

Camdessus' first political appointment was as "Administrateur Civil" in the French civil service. He joined the Treasury in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Policies in 1960. From 1966-68, he served as financial attacheé to the French delegation at the European Economic Community (EEC) in Brussels and...