OMFIF, the central banking think tank, has appointed Neil Williams as chief economist to lead economic and financial coverage of sovereign institutions worldwide.
Williams, a veteran central bank watcher who in a 30-year career was most recently chief economist for Hermes Investment Management and senior economic adviser after its merger with Federated, will join OMFIF’s Economic and Monetary Policy Institute.
With his track record in asset management, investment banking and economic policy, Williams will pay particular attention to central banks’ balance sheets, investments and divestments – including the cross-over between quantitative easing and quantitative tightening as policy-makers navigate a global rise in inflation.
Williams said, ‘I have greatly enjoyed, as a long-term client, getting to know the OMFIF team. I am looking forward to helping deepen relationships with global public investors – including delving further into the intricacies of policy-making and the strategies of reserve managers and asset owners. All this is vital for understanding and explaining the plumbing behind the macroeconomic picture.’
David Marsh, OMFIF chairman, said: ‘We’re very pleased that, across all OMFIF’s activities, Neil will offer insight into the mechanics and psychology of monetary and investment decision-making. We will be looking to him for guidance across the gamut of sovereign institutions at the heart of OMFIF’s activities.’