WB appoints Jean Pesme as Division Director for Bangladesh

Jean Pesme has officially assumed the role of Division Director for Bangladesh and Bhutan at the World Bank, bringing with him extensive experience in fostering economic growth, resilience, and inclusive financial systems.

The announcement came via a press release issued by the World Bank’s Dhaka office on Monday.

A French national and trained engineer, Pesme joined the World Bank in 2003 as a Senior Infrastructure Specialist. Since then, he has held numerous leadership roles across the World Bank Group, including positions within its private sector arm, the International Finance Corporation (IFC). He has significant experience in addressing financial sector challenges, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa.

Most recently, Pesme served as the Global Director of Finance at the World Bank, where he led initiatives to develop strong, stable, sustainable, and inclusive financial systems. He also headed the Financial Stability and Integrity Global Team, which supports countries in building and restoring robust financial infrastructures.

Speaking about his new role, Pesme said, “Bangladesh has remarkable development stories to share with the world. Time and again, the country has impressed with its innovation, determination, and resilience in overcoming complex development and economic challenges. I look forward to working closely with the government and people of Bangladesh to sustain its momentum toward strong and inclusive growth.”

He emphasized the World Bank Group’s commitment to leveraging the combined strengths of its private sector entities—IFC and MIGA—to accelerate private sector development and investment, ultimately contributing to the creation of quality employment opportunities.

The World Bank has been a key development partner for Bangladesh since the country’s independence. To date, it has provided over $46 billion in assistance through grants, interest-free loans, and concessional financing. With an active commitment of $15.4 billion, Bangladesh currently hosts the largest International Development Association (IDA) program globally. IDA, a part of the World Bank, supports the world’s poorest countries with grants and low-interest loans aimed at achieving development goals and reducing poverty.