World Bank President: Fiorina Archives

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Power of public disapproval. Paul Wolfowitz and Carly Fiorina "have since then been dismissed as possibilities in part due to the poor public reception they received as potential presidents". This is according to a United Press International story carried by the Washington Times and others. This almost makes it sound as if there have been public hustings, televised debates and other ways for the public to understand the views and positions of candidates and give their responses. This is of course far from the truth. more...

Alex Wilks ~ March 16, 2005

Card wants Snow. Libération says at least ten minutes of every Washington dinner party are spent guessing who will be the next World Bank president. It reminds correspondent Pascal Riche of a game described by 19th century French author Guy de Maupassant where people used to work out who would replace deceased academics. "Everyone makes their list. People challenge, discuss, calculate. There is nothing more fun, nothing, absolutely nothing."

On Riche's current list are: Fiorina, McPherson, Tobias and Snow. He suggests that Treasury Secretary Snow may be picked because Andrew Card - White House Chief of Staff and thus in charge of the Bank president selection process - wants Snow's job. more...

Alex Wilks ~ March 11, 2005

Fiorina still in with chance. Two well-placed people I have just spoken to in Washington have confirmed that the administration is playing its cards very close to its chest on the Bank presidency. One said, however, that Wolfowitz rumours have died away. Another that "the latest rumour is McPherson is out of the running while Carly Fiorina is still in contention". They considered this the wrong way round. more...

Alex Wilks ~ March 10, 2005

The next Compaq? Carly Fiorina may have no development and little political experience, the Economist notes, but she has handled (or mishandled) a large merger.

"Ms Fiorina's reputation at HP was not unlike Mr Wolfensohn's at the Bank: a leader with a big vision who could not manage. Who knows? Maybe Ms Fiorina would push through a merger with the IMF."

David Steven ~ March 07, 2005

"Desperation" in Bank process. A Washington Post columnist has savaged the US approach to choosing a new World Bank president. Sebastian Mallaby, author of a recent book on the Bank, fears that 2005 may be as bad as 1986. This was "a low point in American economic diplomacy" when development novice Barber Conable was shoe-horned into the institution against his will and to the detriment of the Bank.

Mallaby comments that the rumours about Paul Wolfowitz and Carly Fiorina "look like a sign of desperation" and outlines why they should not do the job. more...

Alex Wilks ~ March 07, 2005

More networking than nous. The Times of London gives a run-down of the candidates for World Bank president who it believes can restore the intellectual rigour squandered by James Wolfensohn's habit of pandering to "every single-issue protest group in sight."

While Jim Leach is a "dullard" and Carly Fiorina a "showy" lightweight, Wolfowitz is "brilliant and still the favourite," and John Taylor - praised for opposing the International Finance Facility - and Kenneth Rogoff would offer solid management. more...

David Steven ~ March 04, 2005

Wolfowitz in, out, shake it all about. According to outgoing World Bank President, James Wolfensohn, Paul Wolfowitz is out of the running ("no longer part, I think, of the exercise, so I don't think there is any need to comment") - but Reuters finds a "Republican source" to disagree...

Fiorina said to be favourite, with Chao hanging on in there...

David Steven ~ March 03, 2005

London Times backs Bono. The Times is not keen on Taylor or Tobias (insufficient stature) or Fiorina (the job would be a reward for failure).

Perhaps surprisingly, the paper joins the Bono bandwagon: "Bono has international credibility, a keen understanding of development issues and, through his mega-earnings with U2, a handle on money."

David Steven ~ March 02, 2005

Fiorina too. Carly Fiorina has joined Paul Wolfofitz as a "leading candidate" for World Bank President, according to the New York Times.

"Ms. Fiorina... carries far less political baggage than Mr. Wolfowitz and has a reputation for dynamic leadership," the paper reports. "As the head of a Fortune 500 company for six years, she gained executive experience that put her near the top of the list for the job. She would also add glamour as probably the only candidate famous enough to be widely known by her nickname - Carly."

David Steven ~ March 02, 2005

"Keep track of the rumored candidates, power plays and buzz."
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