Historical Dictionary of Israel

FISCHER, STANLEY

(1943- )
Citizen of theUnited Stateswho was born in Zambia and appointed governor of theBank of Israelin January 2005. He graduated from the London School ofEconomicswith a B.S. and M.S. in economics (1962-66) and received his Ph.D. in economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1969. He became professor and head of the economics department. Fischer then worked as the vice president of developing economics and chief economist at the World Bank from January 1988 to August 1990. He served as the first deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund from 1994 to 2001. In February 2002, he became vice chairman and president of Citigroup International, head of the Public Sector Client Group, and a member of the Citigroup Management Committee.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharonand Finance MinisterBenjamin Netanyahunominated Fischer to become the governor of the Bank of Israel. On 9 January 2005, Fischer formally announced that he would take up the position and he did so on 1 May 2005.