COMMENTARY
I have been curious about the World Bank since the start of my career ... in fact quite soon after graduation I thought of applying to join the World Bank but decided against it in favor of a corporate career.

My experience over the years suggests that the World Bank is 'unmanageable' and that this will not change because there are too many stakeholders who are very happy with the status quo. In my view the World Bank is a very convenient way for large amounts of money to flow into the economies of developing countries with little or no serious accountability. In my experience no accountability means that there will be high levels of corruption and self serving inefficiency.

I am interested in the background of these people who have held the position of President of the World Bank ... they are people with impressive resumes, but in most case they had only marginal impact on the core reform needed for the World Bank to be effective.
Peter Burgess

World Bank Group Presidents

This page, produced by the World Bank Group Archives, provides an overview of World Bank presidents' tenures highlighting their major contributions to the development of the institution and the challenges each of them faced. The information on the presidents is primarily drawn from Bankers with a Mission: The Presidents of the World Bank, 1946-91, by Jochen Kraske, World Bank Historian (Oxford University Press, published for the World Bank, 1996). The information for the Lewis Preston presidency is taken from publicly available sources produced by the World Bank, and some external publications.

Paul Wolfowitz June 2005 - June 2007 Known as good governance banker who pushed through controversial governance and anti-corruption strategy after extensive global consultations. Placed Africa at the heart of the Bank's poverty reduction agenda. About this Page

James D. Wolfensohn June 1995 - May 2005 Known as the 'Renaissance Banker.' Pushed through reforms that have made the Bank more inclusive, with a renewed focus on poverty reduction.

Lewis Preston September 1991 - May 1995 Distinguished commercial banker. Created a client-oriented vision for the Bank as it celebrated its 50th anniversary.

Barber Conable July 1986 - August 1991 Spurred on the 'greening' of the Bank. '...became effective spokesman for the Bank and persuasively advanced the institution's reform agenda.' - Banker's with a Mission: The Presidents of the World Bank, 1946-91, J. Kraske, 1996

Alden Winship Clausen July 1981 - June 1986 Improved the financial management of the Bank. Wrestled with the onset of recession and the 1980's debt.

Robert Strange McNamara April 1968 - June 1981 Expansionist with a social consciousness. '...indefatigable builder and wielder of influence on behalf of the Bank and the development cause.' - Banker's with a Mission: The Presidents of the World Bank, 1946-91, J. Kraske, 1996

George David Woods January 1963 - March 1968 '...credited with a great vision for the Bank and a number of bold innovations.' - The World Bank: Its First Half Century, Brookings Institution 1997

Eugene Robert Black July 1949 - December 1962 Built a solid financial foundation and led the Bank into an era of financial diplomacy. Much-admired chairman of the Board and popular CEO.

John Jay McCloy March 1947 - June 1949 Started up the Bank's business and lifted its vision from reconstruction to development.

Eugene Meyer June 1946 - December 1946 Laid the groundwork for lasting Bank business policies.