Robert Zoellick- Prifile of the New World Bank President

Profile: Robert Zoellick
By Simon Atkinson
Business Reporter, BBC News



Mr Zoellick is an internationalist and free-markets enthusiast

After the scandal surrounding the resignation of Paul Wolfowitz, the World Bank will be looking for a safe, experienced pair of hands to take over as its leader.

And if, as expected, it accepts the choice of President George W Bush, then Robert Zoellick will be the man who fills the role.

No stranger to high-profile positions, the 53-year-old spent nearly 18 months as deputy secretary of state, where he was number two to Condoleezza Rice.

When he left the job in June last year, to take an executive role at the investment bank Goldman Sachs, Ms Rice described him as her "alter ego", praising his "tireless work ethic" and saying his efforts had made the US "stronger and safer".


No scandal

A Washington insider told the BBC that Mr Zoellick was "charmless and prone to tirades" but that he "had mellowed as he had risen in political life".


His experience and long career in international trade, finance and diplomacy make him uniquely prepared to take on this challenge

US government source

And they added that he possesses a string of characteristics that would help him in the job.

Perhaps foremost on the minds of the Bank, given the Wolfowitz affair, is that it can ill-afford more negative headlines. Mr Zoellick is not prone to scandal.

His experience in government makes him " a known quantity" who campaigned "aggressively" for Bush in 2000 and was loyal to him during his six years inside the Bush administration, the source said.

Mr Zoellick also served as chief of staff to President George H.W. Bush.

'Widely respected'

The World Bank is responsible for promoting economic development and reducing poverty.

ROBERT ZOELLICK'S CV
June 2006 - present: Executive, Goldman Sachs
Feb 2005 - June 2006: US Deputy Secretary of State
2001-05: US Trade Representative
1999-2001: Fellow, German Marshall Fund of US (think-tank)
1998-99: Chief executive designate, Centre for Strategic & International Studies
1997-98: Professor of national security, US Naval Academy
1993-7: Executive vice president, Fannie Mae
1992-3: Deputy chief of staff, President George HW Bush
1989-92: Under secretary of state,
1985-88: US Treasury Department roles
1983-85: Chief executive to board, Fannie Mae

And his international reputation and relationships with many key players in the international economy left would leave him well-placed for the role, the source said.

During his six years in the Bush administration, he led talks with Sudan over the violence in Darfur region as well as in Washington's dealings with China - issues which left him "widely respected".

Before becoming Ms Rice's deputy in early 2005, Mr Zoellick was a former US trade representative who helped start the first round of Doha trade talks.

Perhaps importantly in the global arena, he carries no baggage from the on-going disarray in Iraq, the continuing Achilles heel of US and indeed World politics.


Popular choice?

Described as an enthusiastic advocate of free trade and an internationalist with a broad range of foreign contacts, the Harvard-trained lawyer completed negotiations to bring China and Taiwan into the World Trade Organization.

"Bob Zoellicks's experience and long career in international trade, finance and diplomacy make him uniquely prepared to take on this challenge", a government source told the AFP news agency.

"He has the trust and respect of many officials around the world and believes deeply in the World Bank's mission of tackling poverty."


Mr Zoellick is a familiar face within US government circles

While the head of the World Bank has historically been an American, there have been calls from some member countries to consider candidates from elsewhere - with British Prime Minister Tony Blair even being talked about as an outside contender.

However President Bush insisted he wanted a US citizen in the top job at the bank and it seems that Mr Zoellick may be a popular choice.

Reports suggest that Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, himself a former Goldman Sachs executive, had received "positive reactions" from other World Bank member nations to the choice.