ADB Appoints Leah Gutierrez as Director General for Central and West Asia

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has designated Leah Gutierrez to serve as the Director General for its Central and West Asia Department.

In her role as Director General, Gutierrez will be in charge of implementing ADB’s strategic goals within the Central and West Asia area. She is set to oversee ADB’s collaborations with 11 nations, including Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Her appointment is effective immediately.

Gutierrez stated, “I am deeply honored to take on this responsibility. I look forward to working with member countries and other stakeholders to foster inclusive growth, promote regional partnerships, and advance sustainable progress throughout the region.”

According to the ADB, Gutierrez brings more than four decades of professional experience to the position, with 25 years spent at ADB.

Prior to this appointment, Gutierrez held the position of Director General for ADB’s Sectors Department 3, where she was responsible for managing operations related to finance, social and human development, public sector management, and governance.

Gutierrez, a national of the Philippines, earned a PhD and a Master’s degree in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania in the United States, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Business Economics from the University of the Philippines.

The ADB was established in 1966 and consists of 69 members, with 50 being from the Asia-Pacific region.