University DNA found in world economy player

While its Managing Director, Christine Lagarde, has been putting the heat on Greece and its future in the eurozone, a graduate of De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) has continued a lower profile, yet key role with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Alistair Thomson, who achieved an MA in International Relations through DMU distance learning (2007-2009), is the Deputy Chief of Internal Communications at the IMF, based in Washington DC.

The IMF was conceived at a UN conference in 1944 to help avoid the competitive devaluations that contributed to the Great Depression of the 1930s. It is an organisation of 188 countries working to foster global monetary co-operation, secure financial stability and facilitate international trade. It is seen as central to the promotion of economic growth and reducing poverty around the world.

Before arriving in Washington in 2009, Alistair followed a career path that started out at a local newspaper in Yorkshire and went on to take in London, Brussels, Ivory Coast, South Africa and Senegal. He spent 12 years with Reuters, working in west, central and southern Africa, before achieving his MA.

“I was working as an international correspondent in West Africa. DMU enabled me to study by distance learning and gave me the flexibility to design my own course, directly complementing what I was doing on a day-to-day basis covering economic and trade issues,” he explained.

Alistair found it a challenge to combine study with full-time work, but it’s what enabled him to take his career to a new and exciting place with the IMF.

“The MA was key to opening doors to the job I’m in now,” said Alistair.

“Without it I wouldn’t have been eligible to apply for my first job with the IMF. Doing a postgraduate degree by distance learning is certainly something I’d recommend to people, especially mid-career as I did, when they’re looking to move in a new direction.”

Alistair may not grab as many headlines as his boss but he’s certainly used his DMU learning to help establish a career on the world stage. His global outlook and pursuit of international excellence is, like his alma mater, world class.