WORLD BANK PRESIDENT AJAY BANGA AMONG TIME'S 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL WORLDWIDE

World Bank President Ajay Banga has been featured on Time magazine's list of the 100 most influential individuals worldwide. 

The profile of Ajay Banga, penned by US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, highlights his leadership qualities and vision. Yellen noted Banga's contributions to the global economy during his tenure as CEO of Mastercard, where he facilitated millions of people's access to digital financial services.

"At the World Bank, Ajay set forth a new vision to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet and moved boldly to make good on it—from pioneering innovative financial tools to reimagining partnerships across the multilateral development banks and with the private sector," said Yellen. 

Ajaypal Singh Banga was elected as the World Bank president for a five-year term, beginning June 2 by the World Bank's 25-member executive board in March last year.

Banga's journey to the presidency of the World Bank is marked by a distinguished career. Before his tenure at the World Bank, he served as Vice Chairman at General Atlantic and spent 11 years as President and CEO of Mastercard. His professional trajectory began at Nestle SA, where he held various marketing, sales, and management positions.

Born in Pune's Khadki cantonment, Banga's upbringing as the son of an Indian Army officer instilled in him a sense of discipline and adaptability. He pursued his education at Delhi University and later earned an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.

Banga's career includes stints at PepsiCo Inc and Citigroup, where he rose through the ranks to lead international consumer operations and the Asia-Pacific region, respectively. His contributions to trade and industry have earned him accolades, including the Padma Shri in 2016 by the Indian government and the Foreign Policy Association Medal.

Also featured on the list are Bollywood actor Alia Bhatt, Olympian wrestler Sakshi Malik, Indian-origin Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, and Indian-origin British actor-director Dev Patel among others.

The annual list encompasses 100 influential individuals worldwide across six categories: artists, icons, leaders, titans, innovators, and pioneers.

2024-04-18T06:35:42Z dg43tfdfdgfd