Humberto Lopez served as WB Chief Economist
for Central America between 2008 and 2011
WASHINGTON, July 2, 2014 – The World Bank announced the appointment of J. Humberto Lopez as its Director for Central America, effective yesterday. Lopez is a renowned expert in Central American socio-economic issues, having held other positions for the subregion within the institution.
"One of Humberto Lopez’ priorities will be to lead the Central American unit charged with providing comprehensive solutions aimed at reducing extreme poverty and providing shared prosperity in Central American countries, generating greater opportunities for all citizens, as well as contributing to the subregion’s integration,” said Jorge Familiar, World Bank Vice President for Latin America and the Caribbean.
Lopez, a Spanish national, joined the World Bank in 1996 and has since worked in several positions in the Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean regions. He has also served in the Economic Policy and Poverty Reduction Management Unit and in the Office of the President of the World Bank Group.
Until his new appointment, he was serving as Director of Economic Policy and Poverty Reduction for Latin America and the Caribbean.
Lopez was the World Bank’s Chief Economist for Central America between 2008 and 2011 and is the co-author and/or editor of papers on Central American integration and trade agreements, economic growth, remittances, investment climate, poverty reduction, inequality and fiscal policy.
The new World Bank Director for Central America holds a PhD in Economics from the European University Institute in Italy and a Master’s degree in Economics from Warwick University in the United Kingdom.
In his new position, Lopez, who will be based out of Washington D.C.. He will be in charge of a unit that includes six Central American countries. Lopez replaces Carlos Felipe Jaramillo, who is now working as an advisor to the World Bank’s Managing Director, Sri Mulyani Indrawati.
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