Bruegel has announced the appointment of Katharina Bergant and Simone Tagliapietra as its new Deputy Directors, set to begin their roles in autumn 2026.

Following a unanimous decision by Bruegel’s General Assembly on May 12, 2026, the Brussels-based economic think tank announced the appointment in a press release. Bergant and Tagliapietra will start their new positions in autumn 2026.

_{^{Katharina Bergant: “ECB Conference on Monetary Policy 2024” by European Central Bank, (licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 – permission kindly confirmed by bruegel)  //  Simeone Tagliapietra: bruegel (permission kindly granted)}}

Katharina Bergant, currently an Economist at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), will join Bruegel as Deputy Director in November 2026. She has extensive experience in macro-financial topics and has contributed to various flagship publications of the IMF. Her past roles include work in the IMF’s Western Hemisphere Department and a research fellowship at Harvard Kennedy School. She has also worked at the Central Bank of Ireland, and completed her PhD at Trinity College Dublin.

Simone Tagliapietra, a Senior Fellow at Bruegel since 2015, will assume his Deputy Director position starting September 2026. His focus areas include EU climate and energy policy, and he has played a significant role in the development of EU industrial strategy that aligns with decarbonization and economic competitiveness. He has previously held roles at the European University Institute, Johns Hopkins University and the Catholic University of Milan, where he also completed his PhD.

Both appointees expressed excitement about their new roles. Bergant emphasized the importance of analytical institutions in the face of global challenges, while Tagliapietra reflected on his dedication to supporting Bruegel’s mission and advancing impactful economic policy.

Bruegel’s Director, Jeromin Zettelmeyer, remarked on the significance of these appointments, noting that both directors bring complementary experiences, enhancing the institution’s capability to engage with pressing economic issues.

Under their leadership, Bruegel aims to continue fostering rigorous economic research and contributing to effective economic policy across Europe.

_{^{Image Credits:  
Katharina Bergant: “ECB Conference on Monetary Policy 2024” by European Central Bank, (licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 – permission kindly confirmed by bruegel)
Simeone Tagliapietra: bruegel (permission kindly granted)}}