World Bank Group Appoints Keiko Honda to Head MIGA
Honda joins World Bank Group's investment guarantee agency from McKinsey and Co
WASHINGTON, March 27, 2013 - World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim today announced the appointment of Keiko Honda as Executive Vice President, Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) of the World Bank Group. Honda, a Japanese national, is joining the Agency from McKinsey and Co where she is a Director.
"Keiko has extensive experience within global organizations—both private and public sector—where she has gained a reputation as a leader in banking, corporate finance, and private equity," said Kim.
"I am very pleased to have Keiko lead MIGA, where I am confident that she will continue to promote the important role MIGA plays in bringing in more foreign investments into the least served countries."
Honda has also served on a number of Japanese government committees including the Council of Regulatory Reform for Prime Minister Koizumi and several earlier administrations. She is currently the Vice Chair of the Committee on the Promotion of EPAs/FTAs of the Keizai Doyukai (Japan Association of Corporate Executives), and is also a board member of the Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research. She holds a BA from Ochanomizu University and an MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
"I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our current MIGA Executive Vice President Izumi Kobayashi for her immense contributions and many achievements during her tenure," Kim said. Kobayashi joined MIGA in November 2008. Her term ends in June.
Under Kobayashi's leadership MIGA went through a period of substantial growth and sharpening of its focus to best deliver on its mandate to promote foreign direct investment that brings high development impact in developing countries. From fiscal year 2009 to 2012, MIGA's portfolio grew more than two-thirds and is now at its largest ever. As MIGA celebrates its 25th anniversary, the Agency has positioned itself well to respond to the global investment environment, including a stronger field presence and internal reforms. The Agency issued $2.7 billion in new guarantees in FY2012 – 27 percent higher than the previous year. It was another record high for new issuance by the Agency and the second consecutive year of this trend.
Honda will take up her position on July 15, 2013.
Yoko Kobayashi
ykobayashi2@worldbank.org
In Washington (MIGA)
Mallory Saleson
msaleson@worldbank.org
In Washington (Broadcast Requests)
Natalia Cieslik
ncieslik@worldbank.org
Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency
2013/297/MIGA
East Asia Pacific