Page 12 - Tony Bday

Back in 2007, I was posted at the UN Board of Auditors by the French Court of Accounts and meant to take up a position back home at the Treasury, as my assignment in New York was coming to an end. But my husband and I had adopted our son in the US, and we could not leave the States until the legal proceedings had concluded. So, I started looking for a job at the World Bank or the IMF and sent my CV around. Tony received it and immediately agreed to meet. We had a great chat about public finance, Africa and development issues and he forwarded my CV to FM managers. It must have made its way to Samia Msadek and Hisham Waly, because a few weeks later I was approached by Hisham to take part in the Egypt Country Financial Accountability Assessment. I was hired as an STC and did several missions in Cairo. These got me on the map and eventually led to my recruitment by Edward Olowo-Okere as a Snr Financial Management Specialist a few months later, to work on public finance in French-speaking Africa. Fast forward a dozen years, and I am now the Country Director for Russia – and very grateful to Tony for helping me prove myself in the World Bank Group. Throughout his time at the Bank, Tony remained passionate about Africa, accountability, the development of the FM profession and of course his native Ireland. He could always be counted on to let us know that “the train has left the station” on the latest trends – and to nurture and develop talent throughout the organization. I wish Tony and his family all the best as they celebrate this important milestone.
Best regards, Renaud
Renaud Seligmann
Country Director for Russia