WASHINGTON, January 17, 2012 - The World Bank has today announced the appointment of Makhtar Diop, a Senegalese national, as its new Vice President for Africa. He succeeds Obiageli "Oby" Ezekwesili who will return to Nigeria in early May after serving as the region's Vice President since 2007.
Diop, currently the World Bank's Country Director for Brazil since 2009, will take up his new position on May 6th. A 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 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.
Diop's successor as Country Director in Brazil will be announced in due course.
