James Wolfensohn

Former President of the World bank

As President of the World Bank for two terms (1995 to 2005), only the third President in the World Bank's history to do so, James Wolfensohn travelled to more than 120 countries to pursue the challenges facing the World Bank in regard to poverty and environmental issues. He successfully led initiatives on debt reduction, environmental sustainability, anti-corruption programs and AIDS prevention and treatment.

After leaving the World Bank, he assumed the post of Special Envoy for Gaza Disengagement for the Quartet on the Middle East, a position he served until April 2006.

He is currently Chairman of Wolfensohn & Company LLC, a private investment firm, and an advisor to corporations and government. He is also advisor to Citi's senior management on global strategy and international matters.

Before setting up his own company (in which he relinquished interests during his tenure at the World Bank), Mr Wolfensohn held a series of senior positions in finance. He was Executive Partner of Salomon Brothers in New York and head of its investment banking department, Executive Deputy Chairman and Managing Director of Schroders Ltd in London, President of J Henry Schroders Banking Corporation in New York and Managing director of Darling & Co of Australia.

Mr Wolfensohn has held many professional and honorary Board positions in academia, sciences and the arts, and is a former Chairman of the Board of the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton University, Director and Chairman of Carnegie Hall, President of the International Federation of Multiple Sclerosis Societies, Director of the Business Council for Sustainable Development, and served both as Chairman of the finance Committee and Director of the Rockefeller foundation and the Population Council, and as member of the Board of Rockefeller University.

He has been decorated by the Governments of Australia, Belgium, Brazil, France, Japan, Germany, Georgia, Mexico, Morocco, The Netherlands, Norway, Peru, Pakistan and Russia and was awarded an Honorary Knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II for his contribution to the arts in 1995.