Azernews.Az

By Nazrin Gadimova

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) appointed Francis Malige as the new Managing Director for Eastern Europe and the Caucasus on May 1.

Malige, responsible for leading the Bank's operations in Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia, will be relocated to Kiev later this year.

The bank reported that this position was created with the aim of strengthening and expanding the bank's operations in these six countries at a crucial time across this region.

Commenting on the appointment, EBRD's First Vice President Philip Bennett said Malige brings a mix of skills and experience from the private sector and from key sectors of Bank's operations.

"These skills qualify him exceptionally for this new position, the creation of which underlines the importance the Bank attaches to this region," he said. "I am confident he will make a significant impact on the EBRD's contribution to the economic success of these countries.

Malige joined the EBRD as a Director in the Financial Institutions team in February, 2010. Over the past four years, he has successfully developed Bank's Financial Institutions business in the Western Balkans, Eastern Europe, Turkey and most recently in the southern and eastern Mediterranean.

Before joining the EBRD, he was Managing Director for Corporate Development at BNP Paribas, focusing on bank acquisitions. His earlier career was in accounting and consulting at Arthur Andersen and McKinsey & Company, where he served in industry, high tech and construction, as well as financial services.

Malige is a graduate of ESCP Europe, a French business school.