The World Bank Tuesday announced the appointment of Makhtar Diop, a Senegalese national, as its new Vice President for Africa. He succeeded Obiageli Oby Ezekwesili who is expected to return to Nigeria in early May after serving as the region’s Vice President since 2007.
Diop, the World Bank’s Country Director for Brazil since 2009, will take up his new position on May 6th.
As former Finance Minister in Senegal and Chair of the West African Monetary Union (WAEMU) Board of Finance Ministers, Diop joined the World Bank in 2001 and has served in various senior positions, including as the World Bank’s Country Director for Kenya, Eritrea, and Somalia, as well as Director of Strategy and Operations in the Bank’s Latin America and Caribbean region.
World Bank Group President Robert B. Zoellick while commending Ezekwesili for five years of important and successful service to the Bank and to Africa said that, “Under Oby’s leadership, our Africa team employed innovation, knowledge, partnership and financial services to strengthen results across Africa and to improve the prospects for Africa’s economic performance. “Her close attention to the needs of our clients, engagement with African leadership and with regional institutions, as well as with the UN and other partners, has helped us to leverage our effectiveness across Africa.
