Dominique Gaston André Strauss-Kahn (French pronunciation: ​[dɔminik stʁos kan]; born 25 April 1949) is a French economist, politician, former managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and a figure in the French Socialist Party who attained notoriety due to his involvement in several financial and sexual scandals. He is often referred to in the media, and by himself, by his initials DSK. Strauss-Kahn was appointed managing director of the IMF on 28 September 2007, with the backing of then–President of France Nicolas Sarkozy. He served in that capacity until his resignation on 18 May 2011, in the wake of an allegation that he had sexually assaulted a hotel maid. Other allegations followed, but he was acquitted.