Thus is the comment pronounced by a Moroccan entrepreneur to show his disappointment at the new World Bank chief. Reuters is reporting that the Africans are criticising the current process of appointing the president of the World Bank and are angered by “the arrogance of the US.” Continue reading →

Robert Zoellick’s biography reveals some further interesting elements. He sat on Enron’s advisory board. This means that he should have interesting insights into corporate governance matters – one thing which the Bank’s board has pledged to fix up following the recent dramas. He must also have gained insights through his membership of the Trilateral Commission, a secretive top peoples’ club (though the official website no longer has him listed). Continue reading →

We established this site to open up the process for selecting a new person to run the world’s most powerful development institution. We covered the post-Wolfensohn selection process from beginning to end, and we’ve refreshed this site’s look and functionality to enhance our ability to track, comment on and – hopefully – influence who comes after Wolfowitz and what they say and do. Continue reading →

So it looks like Robert Zoellick is the U.S. pick for the Bank job. There may be nominations from other governments, but now it’s time to rake over the coals and see what Zoellick has done in the past and what he would do if installed at the top of the World Bank.

As a visual break from reading serious insights into Zoellick I recommend you check out this fantastic photo of Robert Zoellick hugging a panda bear in China while on duty as Deputy Secretary of State. Continue reading →

Should Robert Zoellick indeed become president of the World Bank, he will be reunited with his old friend Pascal Lamy, Director-General of the World Trade Organization, in the elite club at the top of the global economic system. When Zoellick was U.S. Trade Representative, Lamy was his counterpart for the European Union. Continue reading →