Hans Peter Lankes is IFC’s Vice President of Economics and Private Sector Development. In this capacity, Mr. Lankes is responsible for ensuring that IFC’s strategies and projects have a consistent focus on development results. He also provides independent economic analysis and oversight to all IFC’s operations and ensures coordination with the World Bank and other international financial institutions on private sector development issues.
A German national, Mr. Lankes previously served as the Managing Director of Corporate Strategy at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). He was also a member of the EBRD’s Executive Committee. As Managing Director, he advised the EBRD President on the institution’s strategy and was responsible for designing and achieving shareholder support for its priorities. He also led the EBRD’s expansion into the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean region. Previously, Mr. Lankes served as the EBRD’s Acting Chief Economist, reorganizing the department in to the bank’s research hub. As Acting Vice President for Policy from 2012 to 2013 and again in late 2014, he established the department as a focal point for the in-country delivery of policy reforms.
Prior to joining the EBRD in 2007, Hans Peter worked at the International Monetary Fund in Washington, D.C., where he was Chief of the Trade Division and Adviser in the Policy Development and Review Department. His earlier career includes positions at the Central American Business School, the Nicaraguan Ministry of Economy, and the German-Thai Chamber of Commerce, and an earlier period of employment at the EBRD between 1993 and 2000.
Mr. Lankes holds a Ph.D. in Public Policy and a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University, as well as economics degrees from Albert Ludwigs Universität Freiburg and Université de Grenoble.
