Steve MacFeely has been appointed as the new Chief Statistician of the OECD. He took up his duties on 26 August.
The OECD produces high-quality, innovative statistics as part of a dynamic data ecosystem. Trusted and timely statistics are the backbone of the Organisation as an indispensable tool for comparative analysis, transparency, accountability and informed decision-making for policy makers in our work to deliver better policies and find effective multilateral solutions to the shared global challenges of our time.
The OECD also plays a leading role in developing and promoting the implementation of international statistical standards, through OECD-authored statistics working papers and measurement handbooks, and in collaboration with other international organisations, as is the case for the 2025 update of the System of National Accounts and the Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual.
Steve, who takes over from outgoing Chief Statistician Paul Schreyer, joins the OECD from the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, where he was Director of Data and Analytics and Acting Data Protection Officer since 2021. In this role, he led and coordinated a decentralised statistical system, comprising both staff and consultants, to support the WHO's General Programme of Work.
Previously, he was the Director of Statistics at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in Geneva (2014-21) and Assistant Director-General of the Central Statistics Office (CSO) in Ireland (2007-14), where he also acted as Director of Social and Demographic Statistics (2012-14) and Director of Business Statistics and Methodology (2007-12). Since 2020 he has co-chaired the Committee of Chief Statisticians of the UN System (CCS-UN) and the Committee for the Coordination of Statistical Activities (CCSA).
An Irish national, Steve holds a PhD in Economic Statistics from the University College of Cork in Ireland, a Higher Diploma in Statistics from Trinity College Dublin, a master's degree in economics from University College Dublin and a bachelor's degree in economics and Sociology from University College Cork.
