EBRD Elects France’s Renaud-Basso as New President

The Board of Governors of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has elected Odile Renaud-Basso of France as new president of the bank.

Renaud-Basso, who is currently the Director General of the French Treasury, is replacing Soma Chakrabarti, who resigned in July after serving two full terms of four years each. Renaud-Basso is expected to assume office later this year.

The elections took place on Thursday during a postponed virtual meeting, which was supposed to be held in May.

Following her election, Renaud-Basso said: “It is a great honor for me to have been elected as the new President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, a truly unique institution. I wish to express my thanks to all the countries that supported my candidacy, with whom I have had numerous and fruitful exchanges in the past few months. I look forward to working with all shareholders, the management and the staff in the coming months, to implement the ambitious roadmap that was just agreed at the Annual Meeting.”

“I congratulate Odile Renaud-Basso on her election,” said EBRD Acting President Jürgen Rigterink. She will bring huge international experience to the EBRD and I know the Bank will be in very good hands as it enters the next chapter in its thirty-year success story. I look forward to welcoming her to our institution.”

Renaud-Basso, who served as the Director General of the French Treasury has overseen the development of France’s economic policies, leading on European and international financial affairs, trade policies, financial regulation and debt management.

In addition, she also held the position of Vice President of the European Economic and Financial Committee, deputy the G7 and G20 as well as the French governor to the World Bank, and the president of the Paris Club.

It is noteworthy that Renaud-Basso is a graduate of the Paris Institute for Policy Studies, and a graduate of the National School of Administration. She has also attended Harvard University's John F Kennedy School of Government.