Ajay Banga is the right person to lead the World Bank and raise its ambitions in tackling the largest global development challenges, including climate change. He has a long track record of building bridges among business and government leaders, working to find common ground, and collaborating with them to achieve shared goals, something I’ve seen firsthand. In New York’s City Hall, our administration teamed up with him to make our critical infrastructure greener and more sustainable. He was also a leading member of an initiative our company created to increase private sector involvement in pressing societal problems.
He has the experience to manage a large and complex organization effectively, and he will bring a spirit of urgency to the role that is critically needed. He has made clear that climate change will become more fully integrated into the bank’s work and mission, and his background positions him to capitalize on the eagerness of financial institutions to form new partnerships with the World Bank that increase access to clean energy. Knocking down barriers to development and accelerating more inclusive and sustainable economic growth requires strong, determined, and innovative leadership – and Ajay is ideally suited to deliver it. He has my full support and enthusiastic endorsement.