The World Bank has appointed Dr. Susana Cordeiro Guerra as its new Vice President for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), placing her at the helm of one of the institution’s largest and most dynamic regions.
In her new role, Cordeiro Guerra will oversee the bank’s work with 31 countries and guide a portfolio exceeding US$41 billion in active projects. She will operate from the Bank’s Washington, D.C. headquarters, where she is expected to advance policies that drive job creation, strengthen economic resilience, and deepen cooperation between governments and the private sector.
Cordeiro Guerra is the first Latin American woman to hold this position, marking a historic milestone for the institution. She emphasized her central priority as fostering employment:
“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.”
Her career includes senior roles at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), where she guided fiscal and economic programs and promoted financial innovation. Between 2019 and 2021, she served as head of Brazil’s National Statistics Office (IBGE), overseeing modernization of national data systems and the population census. Earlier in her career, she also contributed to World Bank initiatives on decentralization and regional development.
Academically, Cordeiro Guerra holds a PhD in Political Science from MIT, a Master’s in Public Administration and International Development from Harvard Kennedy School, and a Bachelor’s degree from Harvard College. Her research has focused on public sector innovation, higher education, labor outcomes, and regional disparities.
She succeeds Carlos Felipe Jaramillo, who now transitions to lead the World Bank’s operations in East Asia and the Pacific.
