WB appoints new country head for Philippines

MANILA, Philippines—The World Bank has appointed Motoo Konishi as the new country director for the Philippines.

Konishi takes over the post from Bert Hofman, who has been appointed as the bank’s new chief economist for East Asia and the Pacific region.

Hofman served as the country director for the Philippines from December 2007.

Konishi joined the World Bank in 1981 through the bank’s Young Professionals Program and served as country officer for Kazakhstan before being appointed to the bank’s Central Asia unit.

Konishi obtained his degree in International Economics from Clarement McKenna College in the United States.

He also holds a graduate degree in development economics, international law, and international business from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in the United States.