Patchamuthu Illangovan (Illango) will join the Islamabad office today (Friday) as the World Bank’s new country director for Pakistan. He succeeded Rachid Benmessaoud who has completed his term.
Mr Illangovan, a Sri-Lankan national, counts over three decades of international development experience. He joined the World Bank in 1993 and served in many positions including leadership roles in Europe and Central Asia, East Asia and Pacific, and South Asia regions of the World Bank. He has also held managerial responsibilities in the Bank’s country offices in Bangkok, Vientiane and Kabul. Illango has managed programmes and projects in many middle and low income countries, including leading teams which have delivered complex and innovative solutions to Bank clients in water, environment, natural resources, energy and urban sectors. He has extensive experience in overseeing the implementation of portfolios in challenging country environments. Prior to joining the Bank, he worked in the public and private sectors in Sri Lanka.