Riccardo Puliti is IFC’s Regional Vice President for the Middle East and Central Asia, a region, which includes Middle East and Central Asia countries as well as Türkiye, Afghanistan and Pakistan. He oversees all investment and advisory operations, leading IFC’s efforts to mobilize the private sector and drive reforms to address some of the region’s most pressing challenges, with a focus on fostering job creation and sustainable development. His priorities include financing and investing in companies and projects that boost cross-border investments, improve competitiveness and trade, and support inclusion and fragile and conflict-affected states.

An Italian national, Mr. Puliti brings more than 30 years of experience in public and private sector development, including nearly a decade with the World Bank Group. Most recently, as IFC’s Regional Vice President for Asia and the Pacific, he oversaw initiatives that tripled investment volumes, built a robust equity and debt portfolio, and advanced key reforms to attract and retain private sector investors.

Prior to that, he served as Vice President for Infrastructure at the World Bank, leading global efforts to facilitate, design and build effective infrastructure in developing and emerging markets. He also held other senior leadership roles at the World Bank as Regional Director for Infrastructure in Africa, and as Global Director for Energy and Extractives.

Before joining the World Bank Group, Mr. Puliti had a long and distinguished career in both private and public financial institutions, including the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Istituto Mobiliare Italiano, Banque Indosuez, and NM Rothschild and Sons, where he specialized in mergers and acquisitions and equity capital markets.

Mr. Puliti holds an MBA from Instituto Superior de Estudios de la Empresa and completed postgraduate studies at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, and Imperial College, London.

Riccardo Puliti is IFC’s Regional Vice President for the Middle East and Central Asia, a region, which includes Middle East and Central Asia countries as well as Türkiye, Afghanistan and Pakistan. He oversees all investment and advisory operations, leading IFC’s efforts to mobilize the private sector and drive reforms to address some of the region’s most pressing challenges, with a focus on fostering job creation and sustainable development. His priorities include financing and investing in companies and projects that boost cross-border investments, improve competitiveness and trade, and support inclusion and fragile and conflict-affected states.

An Italian national, Mr. Puliti brings more than 30 years of experience in public and private sector development, including nearly a decade with the World Bank Group. Most recently, as IFC’s Regional Vice President for Asia and the Pacific, he oversaw initiatives that tripled investment volumes, built a robust equity and debt portfolio, and advanced key reforms to attract and retain private sector investors.

Prior to that, he served as Vice President for Infrastructure at the World Bank, leading global efforts to facilitate, design and build effective infrastructure in developing and emerging markets. He also held other senior leadership roles at the World Bank as Regional Director for Infrastructure in Africa, and as Global Director for Energy and Extractives.

Before joining the World Bank Group, Mr. Puliti had a long and distinguished career in both private and public financial institutions, including the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Istituto Mobiliare Italiano, Banque Indosuez, and NM Rothschild and Sons, where he specialized in mergers and acquisitions and equity capital markets.

Mr. Puliti holds an MBA from Instituto Superior de Estudios de la Empresa and completed postgraduate studies at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, and Imperial College, London.