Vincenzo La Via, an Italian national, joined the World Bank in 2005 as its first Group Chief Financial Officer. In this role, he is responsible for the financial soundness and stability of the entire World Bank Group and is a member of the Bank’s Senior Management Team, which is responsible for corporate leadership and strategy. He oversees the Bank’s work with its client countries in financial and capital market systems. In his time at the World Bank, Mr. La Via chaired the discussions with donors for the 15th replenishment of the International Development Association (IDA), the institution’s fund for the world’s 80 poorest countries, which was successfully concluded in 2007. He has also been closely involved in the development and deployment of new financial products and in reforming the loan pricing for middle-income clients. Another area of focus has been to ensure the World Bank continues to comply with the highest accounting and regulatory standards. In this regard, he has overseen the institution’s compliance with the standards set by the U.S. Sarbanes-Oxley act. Mr. La Via has worked to ensure there is consistency in the financial policies and accounting and fiduciary standards across the different institutions that comprise the World Bank Group, with differences being clearly related to the differing business considerations of each. Prior to joining the Bank, Mr. La Via was the Chief Financial Officer for Banca Intesa, Italy’s largest bank. Previously he served as Director General in the Debt Management Department of the Italian Ministry of the Treasury and as Managing Director of the Italian investment management company, Akros S.p.A. From 1985 to 1991 he worked at the World Bank, joining the Young Professionals Program, spending a year as advisor to the Italian Executive Director, and then working as Senior Investment Officer in the Treasury Department. Mr. La Via holds a degree from the Università La Sapienza in Rome and a PhD in economics from the University of California, Los Angeles. To reach this expert, please contact the World Bank’s Media Division. Updated September 24, 2008 | 
