Bernard Lauwers is the former Vice President, Special Assignment and Acting Managing Director & World Bank Group Chief Financial Officer, from February 1, 2019 to October 6, 2019. In his Special Assignment role, Mr. Lauwers reported to the World Bank Chief Executive officer and led three corporate projects: the development of a risk appetite framework for Bank Operations, the preparation for the transition and transformation to a new Enterprise Resource Planning platform for the World Bank Group, and the Integrated Reporting project. In his former concurrent role as acting Managing Director and World Bank Group Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Lauwers was responsible for overseeing financial reporting, risk management, and the sustainable mobilization of financial resources in alignment with the Group’s strategy.

Prior to that, Mr. Lauwers served as Vice President, World Bank Group Controller from February 2014 to January 2019. In this role, he was responsible for all aspects of financial operations, financial reporting, and internal control framework for the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the International Development Association, the International Finance Corporation, the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, and the extensive Trust Fund/Joint Venture portfolio of these entities.  He also led the client service function for the WBG corporate expenses and WBG trust funds. 

Mr. Lauwers joined IFC in March 2009 as Controller and Director of the Finance and Accounting Department, where he transformed the IFC controllership function to increase its engagement with Operations via business partnership and value-added corporate support and services. In addition to his role as Controller, he served as IFC’s Chief Administrative Officer between 2013 and 2016 with oversight responsibility for IFC’s Budget and Strategy as well as IFC’s Facilities and Administration, Data Governance, Portfolio Valuation, Information Technology, and Corporate Investment Operations.

Prior to joining IFC, Mr. Lauwers built nearly twenty years of progressive international finance experience across various industries, including management positions in several large multinational companies, such as Generale Bank, Owens-Corning Fiberglass, A.C. Nielsen, Cable & Wireless, and the UCB Group.

Mr. Lauwers holds a Master’s degree in Finance from Solvay Business School in Belgium and the designation of Certified Financial Analyst by the European Federation of Financial Analysts Societies.  A Belgian national, Mr. Lauwers is married and has four children.