­Gary Perlin, treasurer of the World Bank: Perlin switches the focus

On his first day as treasurer of the World Bank ­ March 1 this year Gary Perlin was winding up a trip to China, the bank's biggest borrower. By contrast, the first overseas trip of his predecessor Jessica Einhorn (now promoted to managing director) was to Japan, the biggest investor in the bank's bonds.

That, says Perlin, is a neat example of the change in emphasis he wants to bring to his department. “Historically,” says Perlin, “treasury considered the World Bank’s balance sheet to be its only client. I want to shift the focus to our end-clients, the borrowers.” That could force changes in the way investment bankers service the World Bank.

Perlin brings to the job an unusual perspective. He is the first World Bank treasurer who has also been treasurer at another financial institution: he held the post at Fannie Mae from 1985 to 1993.

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