About Paul Hilbers
Paul Hilbers
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“If you truly think, this is something I can do, this fits who I am, then you shouldn’t be too afraid. You should simply go for it and see where it leads.”
Short biography
Paul Hilbers is a leading Dutch economist with nearly forty years of experience in financial stability and international monetary policy. He held senior roles at De Nederlandsche Bank and the International Monetary Fund, where he served as Executive Director, representing a Dutch-Belgian constituency of 16 countries. He is Professor of Financial Institutions Supervision at Nyenrode Business Universiteit and delivered his emeritus lecture Bretton Woods 2.0: The Role of the IMF and the World Bank in the Changing International Environment. He was appointed Commander of the Order of Orange-Nassau. Paul studied mathematics and econometrics and lives with his wife in Bussum.
Personal details
Name: Paul Hilbers
Year of birth: 1956
Current Position
Emeritus Professor of Financial Institutions Supervision, Nyenrode Business Universiteit
Previous Positions
2020–2024 — Executive Director, International Monetary Fund (representing a Dutch-Belgian constituency of 16 countries)
2015–2020 — Director Financial Stability, De Nederlandsche Bank
2009–2015 — Director Supervision Policy, De Nederlandsche Bank
2010–2025 — Professor of Financial Institutions Supervision, Nyenrode Business Universiteit
1985–2009 — Various senior roles in supervision, financial stability and international policy, De Nederlandsche Bank and International Monetary Fund
Education
Mathematics – Utrecht University
Econometrics – Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
PhD in International Economics – Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Fun fact
His friends already predicted he’d work at the IMF during a study trip in 1982, before he believed it himself.
Favourite Book / Film / Series
Walter Isaacson’s biography of Elon Musk and Geert Mak’s De Wisselwachter.
Last updated 17 December 2025
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