Mr. Pierre Laporte is Country Director for Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone effective July 1, 2019. Prior to his appointment, he served as Country Director for Benin, Burkina, Côte d’Ivoire and Togo.

Before joining the Bank, Laporte, a Seychelles national, was the Minister for Finance, Trade, and Investment of the Republic of Seychelles and he served as Governor of the Central Bank of Seychelles. During that time, Laporte was a leading member of the Seychelles government team that implemented the country’s successful macro-economic reform program that was launched in 2008 with international support. Prior to joining the World Bank, Laporte was also a regular speaker for the Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on experiences on debt and growth challenges facing island economies.

Laporte also previously served as an economist with the IMF, as well as the Resident Representative in Niger from 2005-2008. Laporte has also private sector experience having served as the CEO of the Sacos Insurance Group in Seychelles. Laporte’s professional accomplishments also include leading Seychelles’ accession into the World Trade Organization as Trade Minister.

Mr. Laporte holds a master’s degree in Economics (with Distinction) from the University of Sheffield (UK) and a bachelor’s degree in Business Economics with Computing from the University of Surrey (UK). He is also a holder of several awards; in 1998 he received the Midland Bank Award for Outstanding Performer in the Economics, Money, Banking and Finance programs of the University of Sheffield (1998). He received the 2013 Southern African Finance Minister of the Year award by the African Leadership Magazine and a Special Commendation Award for Outstanding Contribution and Service to Humanity by the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus in 2014.