New World Bank Country Director to assume office on July 1

KATHMANDU: David Sislen has been named the World Bank’s new Country Director for Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.

Sislen will officially assume office on July 1. He succeeds Faris Hadad-Zervos, who will be taking on a new World Bank assignment, according to a statement issued by the World Bank.

“Sislen, a dual national of the US and Italy, joined the World Bank Group in 2001 as an Economist in the Urban Cluster Unit and has since held various operational and managerial positions in different regions. His most recent assignment was as Practice Manager for Urban, Disaster Risk Management, and Land in the Latin America and Caribbean Region, based in Washington, DC,” the statement added.

Sislen has said he looks forward to his new role and meeting with all stakeholders and partners soon. “My key priority will be to lead the strategic dialogue to shape and implement operational engagements in line with the World Bank’s focus on speed, scale, and impact, working closely with the government, development partners, and diverse stakeholders,” Sislen is quoted as saying in the statement.

Sislen will oversee the World Bank portfolio in the Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, which is around $4.8 billion.