29 January 2010
Awaiting his confirmation as the new U.S. Executive Director at the World Bank, Ian Solomon testified about how his experience would inform his time at the Bank, and about the role he sees the institution taking. Also testifying was Walter Crawford Jones, nominee to be U.S. Executive Director at the African Development Bank.
After several delays, Ian Hoddy Solomon received his hearing in front of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on January 28, 2010. Solomon was formally nominated for the position in November 2009, though his nomination had been announced in early October. Solomon will replace current U.S. Executive Director Eli Whitney Debevoise II, who has served since April 2007. The Alternate Director position is currently vacant. The U.S. Executive Director controls 16.42% of the voting shares of the Bank, the largest portion among any of the Executive Directors.
At his hearing, Solomon talked about how his background has shaped his view of the importance of accountability at the Bank, and what he viewed to be the Bank's most important goals. He answered questions about the Bank's specific role among the IFIs, both in general and in the specific case of Haiti, as well as how he viewed its response to the global economic crisis.
Also testifying were Walter Crawford Jones, nominated to be Executive Director of the African Development Bank, Douglas Rediker, nominated to be Alternate Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund, and Leocadia Zak, nominated to be Director of the Trade and Development Agency.
committee hearing details
Read the prepared testimony of the nominees:
To watch the hearing, including the questions and answers between committee members, click here. Ian Solomon answers questions at 65:30 and 79:12.