Robert Zoellick

The Eleventh World Bank Group President; Senior Fellow, Belfer Center at Harvard University Kennedy’s School of Government and the Peterson Institute for International Economics

Robert Zoellick was the eleventh president of the World Bank Group, a position he held from July, 2007 to June, 2012. Previous to joining the World Bank, he served as Vice Chairman, International, of the Goldman Sachs Group, Managing Director, and Chairman of Goldman Sachs’ Board of International Advisors from 2006-2007. From 2005-2006, Zoellick served as the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, where he created and led the Strategic Dialogue with China. Previously, from 2001-2005 he served in the U.S. cabinet as the 13thU.S. Trade Representative and was instrumental in completing the accession of China and Chinese Taipei to the WTO. From 1985-1993, he served with Secretary James A. Baker, III at the Treasury Department (from Deputy Assistant secretary for Financial Institutions Policy to Counselor to the Secretary); State Department (Undersecretary of State for Economic and Agricultural Affairs as well as Counselor of the Department with Undersecretary rank); and briefly as deputy chief of staff at the White House and assistant to the president. Zoellick was the lead US official in the “Two-plus-Four” process of German unification in 1989-90.

Zoellick has received a number of awards, including the Knight Commanders Cross from Germany for his work on unification; the Aztec Eagle from Mexico and the Order of Merit from Chile, the highest honors of each country for non-citizens; the Alexander Hamilton and Distinguished Service Awards, the highest honors of the Departments of Treasury and State, respectively; and the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service. Zoellick graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Swarthmore College in 1975. He earned his J.D. magna cum laude from the Harvard Law School and a MPP from the Kennedy School of Government in 1981.