Tunis, April 18, 2008 – The African Development Bank (AfDB) is pleased to announce the coming of James Wolfensohn, previous President of the World Bank Group, as a guest Eminent Speaker.
Mr Wolfensohn will address AfDB staff and development partners in Tunis on Friday, April 25th, 2008, on the theme "Africa in a Global World: Partnerships for Success".
The media are invited to the presentation. After the conference, at around noon, Mr Wolfensohn will be available for questions with members of the press.
We would appreciate that interested journalists confirm their participation to AfDB at: press@afdb.org.
Date: 25 April, 2008
Time: 9h45-12h00
Venue: Mohamed Majoul Hall, AMEN Bank, Mohammed V Avenue, Tunis
James Wolfensohn Resume
Mr Wolfensohn is Chairman of Wolfensohn & Company, LLC, a private investment firm and an advisor to corporations and governments. Mr. Wolfensohn became Chairman of Citigroup International Advisory Board on April 18, 2006. He is also advisor to Citigroup's senior management on global strategy and on international matters.
Mr. Wolfensohn was the ninth president of the World Bank Group, from 1995. On May 31, 2005, at the end of his second term, he left office and assumed the post of Special Envoy for Gaza Disengagement for the Quartet on the Middle East, a position he served until April 30, 2006.
Mr. Wolfensohn was the third president in the World Bank's history to be reappointed for a second five-year term by the Board of Executive Directors. As President of the World Bank, he travelled to more than 120 countries in order to pursue the challenges facing the World Bank in regard to poverty and environmental issues. He led successfully initiatives on debt reduction, environmental sustainability, anti corruption programs, and AIDS prevention and treatment. He developed activities on religion and culture and decentralised offices overseas linked by the most modern telecommunications system in the international community.
Prior to joining the Bank, Mr. Wolfensohn was an international investment banker. His last position was as President and Chief Executive Officer of James D. Wolfensohn, Inc., his own investment and corporate advisory firm set up in 1981 to work with major U.S. and international corporations. He relinquished his interests in the firm upon joining the World Bank.
Before setting up his own company, Mr. Wolfensohn held a series of senior positions in finance. He was Executive Partner of Salomon Brothers in New York and head of its investment banking department. He was Executive Deputy Chairman and Managing Director of Schroders Ltd. in London, President of J. Henry Schroders Banking Corporation in New York, and Managing Director of Darling & Co. of Australia.
Throughout his career Mr. Wolfensohn has also closely involved himself in a wide range of cultural and voluntary activities, especially in the performing arts. In 2005 he established the Wolfensohn Center for Development at the Brookings Institution.
