The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) announced on Wednesday that it had appointed Mark Davis as its new Managing Director for the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean (SEMED) region, effective October 1, 2024. Davis succeeds Heike Harmgart, who recently assumed the role of EBRD Managing Director for Sub-Saharan Africa. An American national, Davis currently serves as the EBRD's Regional Head of Central Europe, overseeing operations in Croatia, Czechia, Hungary, Slovakia, and Slovenia. With over two decades of experience in international financial institutions and commercial banking, Davis possesses a strong track record of fostering business growth in European Union countries, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia. He also boasts expertise in global capital markets and structural policy dialogue. Prior to joining the EBRD, he held senior positions at the World Bank, Morgan Stanley, and Goldman Sachs. Davis holds a PhD in Economics from Tulane University. In his new role, Davis said: "Building on my predecessor's achievements, I will focus on business to accelerate green transition, strengthen competitiveness of the corporate sector, support resilience of the financial sector and promote inclusion and digitalisation." Since launching operations in SEMED in 2012, the EBRD has invested over €22.3 billion in 414 projects. This investment has supported the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises, promoted agribusiness, developed infrastructure and local services, and supported renewable energy, energy efficiency, and the development of local capital markets.
