The World Bank Group has appointed Susana Cordeiro Guerra as Vice President for the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region, effective today. In her new role, she will oversee the Bank’s engagement with 31 countries and manage a portfolio of US$41.5 billion in ongoing operations. She will be based at the World Bank’s headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Ms. Cordeiro Guerra becomes the first Latin American woman to hold this position. She brings extensive leadership experience in development effectiveness, institutional strengthening, and innovative finance, and will focus on advancing the Bank’s agenda to deliver jobs-driven development, measurable results, and stronger public–private collaboration across the region.
“As I begin this role, my priority is to support Latin America and the Caribbean in creating quality jobs that are the foundation of inclusive growth and poverty reduction,” said Ms. Cordeiro Guerra. “Jobs not only provide income, they bring dignity, strengthen communities, and expand opportunity. By working with governments, the private sector, and local partners, we can create the conditions for investment and innovation that translate into more resilient economies and more prosperous societies.”
Before joining the Bank, Ms. Cordeiro Guerra held senior leadership roles at the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB), where she led strategy on fiscal and economic programs, advanced data-driven decision-making, and promoted financial innovation. From 2019 to 2021, she headed Brazil’s National Statistics Office (IBGE), managing 12,000 staff and modernizing the country’s official statistics and national population census. Earlier, she worked at the World Bank across multiple departments and regions on decentralization and subnational development.
She holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from MIT, a Master’s in Public Administration and International Development from Harvard Kennedy School, and a Bachelor’s degree in Social Studies from Harvard College. Her research and publications focus on innovation in the public sector, higher education and labor market outcomes, and regional disparities.
Ms. Cordeiro Guerra succeeds Carlos Felipe Jaramillo, who has been appointed Vice President for East Asia and Pacific.
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