Less than a month after an independent inquiry commissioned by the World Bank found that she had a significant role in tampering with the 2018 Doing Business survey, a decision was made regarding her leadership of the IMF. The inquiry raised concerns about her judgment and ability to lead the organization, but the IMF's executive board ultimately decided that there was not enough evidence to prove she had acted improperly. The board reaffirmed its confidence in her leadership and ability to perform her duties effectively, citing her commitment to upholding high standards of governance and integrity. Despite the controversy, Georgieva, a Bulgarian economist, had strong support from many IMF shareholders, including France, who had advocated for her appointment in 2019. The United States, as the largest shareholder of the fund, did not publicly support Kristalina Georgieva after allegations were made against her, but did not call for her removal. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen had a conversation with Georgieva, acknowledging concerns raised by the World Bank investigation into her actions. Yellen stated that without further evidence of Georgieva's involvement in data manipulation, there was no reason to change leadership at the fund. This decision may have political consequences for the Biden administration, as both Republicans and Democrats in Congress had urged Yellen to ensure full accountability following reports that Georgieva had instructed staff to prevent China's ranking from dropping in a report on national business climates. The Biden administration and lawmakers from both parties have expressed concerns about China's increasing economic power and influence in international organizations. Officials at the Treasury Department have been discussing the seriousness of the situation for weeks, maintaining publicly that the investigation into Georgieva's actions at the World Bank should proceed as planned. The World Bank's Doing Business report evaluates the business environment in countries worldwide, with developing nations relying on their rankings to attract foreign investment. During the time of the alleged manipulation, World Bank officials were preoccupied with negotiations for a capital increase and were under pressure to avoid upsetting China, which was ranked 78th in 2017 and was expected to drop in the 2018 report. The investigation revealed that Jim Yong Kim's staff, including Georgieva, worked to boost China's ranking without negatively impacting other countries. Georgieva was actively involved in these efforts, even reprimanding the bank's China director for mishandling the relationship. The IMF's executive board recently interviewed officials from WilmerHale, the law firm behind the investigation, as well as Georgieva herself, who defended her actions and criticized the investigation process. Georgieva stated that the WilmerHale Report does not accurately represent her actions in relation to Doing Business 2018, nor does it accurately reflect her character or her conduct throughout her lengthy professional career. She expressed gratitude to the IMF board for their confidence in her leadership after a thorough review of the allegations. "Trust and integrity have been the foundation of the multinational companies that I have dedicatedly worked for for over forty years." © 2021 The New York Times Company.