The academic year has finished, the weather is good, half the department is on holiday, and the next academic year seems an age away. But the summer is a deceptively important period, both for recruiters on the one hand, and candidates on the other.

Dr. Richard Whittle has been appointed Professor of Artificial Intelligence and Public Policy at the University of Salford’s Business School, focusing on responsible AI and economic transformation.

Lord Meghnad Desai, a celebrated economist and member of the House of Lords, has passed away at the age of 85. His contributions to economic thought and public policy were instrumental in shaping modern economics.

The Portuguese government has announced the nomination of Alvaro Santos Pereira as the next governor of the central bank, succeeding Mario Centeno, whose term ended in July. Pereira, chief economist at the OECD, must undergo parliamentary questioning before his appointment. Centeno's tenure faced criticism for perceived lack of independence after transitioning from finance minister to central bank governor.

Professor Jagjit Chadha from the Faculty of Economics at Cambridge has been appointed a Fellow of Gresham College.

The Euro Area Business Cycle Network (EABCN) has taken responsibility for updating the Euro Area Business Cycle Dating Committee’s (EABCDC) Area Wide Model (AWM) database, originally managed by the ECB. This move aims to enhance the availability of the data for research on the euro area business cycle, with plans for updates twice yearly.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has appointed Rodrigo Valdes as the new Director of the Fiscal Affairs Department, effective immediately. Valdes, who succeeds the retiring Vicky Sterlini, brings extensive experience in economic policy and fiscal management.