Hans Blommestein, Ph.D.

Dr. Hans J. Blommestein graduated in economics from the Free University of Amsterdam where he obtained also his Ph.D. on an econometric topic.

He has worked for the OECD in Paris in various capacities. In the period 1998-2000 he was the acting head of the financial affairs division of the OECD. In the period 1991-1995, he was the CSCE professor of economics, department of public administration and public policies, University of Twente, Enschede, the Netherlands. He participated as advisor in many IMF missions to Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. Dr. Blommestein was also on a few occasions a visiting scholar in the research department of the IMF.

During his tenure at the ministry of finance, Dr. Blommestein was the Netherlands member of the OECD Committee on Capital Movements and Invisible Transactions (CMIT) and a temporary alternate member of the Monetary Committee of the EC. He was also the personal assistant of Minister Onno Ruding in his capacity as chairman of the interim committee of the IMF (the highest policy-making body of the IMF).

Prior to that, Dr. Blommestein held positions as an associate professor of economics at the University of Twente, visiting professor at the University of Akron, visiting scientist at the Smithsonian Institution, deputy head of the international monetary affairs division at the Dutch Ministry of Finance.

Dr. Blommestein published many articles on econometric methodology, spatial economics, pension finance, the political and economic transformation process in former socialist countries, and financial markets.

His current clients are government and (semi-)governmental agencies (e.g. financial supervisors, pension fund organisations) from the OECD area, Asia, Latin America, Africa and the former Soviet Union. In addition he works with representatives from the financial services industry, including pension funds, insurance companies, stock exchanges and banks.

Dr. Blommestein served (or is serving) on several international advisory or governance boards: IMF-led International Advisory Board on Payment System reform in Russia; US-coordinated International Advisory Board on the preparation of an economic reform programme for the new government of Serbia; EU advisory group on the development of a second pillar in EU pension systems; OECD/FEAS Working Group on Capital Market Development in Eurasia; Contributing member of ATCA (The Asymmetric Threats Contingency Alliance); US-coordinated International Advisory Board on Ukrainian Bond Market Development and Strategy for Public Debt Management (Ukrainian Ministry of Finance, 2007).