PM-led ACC appoints Neelkanth Mishra as World Bank executive director

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the appointment of senior economist Neelkanth Mishra as Executive Director at the World Bank. Mishra will be based in Washington, D.C., and will serve a three-year term from the date he assumes office, according to an official order issued by the Ministry of Personnel on Thursday. 

As Executive Director, Mishra will represent a South Asian constituency comprising India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka on the World Bank’s board. 

He will succeed Parameswaran Iyer, who has held the position since February 2023. To facilitate a smooth transition, the government has extended Iyer’s tenure beyond its scheduled end date of June 19 until Mishra formally takes charge in Washington. 

Mishra’s appointment adds to a distinguished career spanning economic research, financial markets and public policy. He currently serves as a part-time member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister and holds board-level positions at the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). 

A glance at his career 

In the private sector, Mishra is Chief Economist at Axis Bank and Head of Global Research at Axis Capital. Prior to joining the Axis Group in 2023, he spent nearly two decades at Credit Suisse, where he rose to the position of Managing Director and Co-Head of Equity Strategy for the Asia-Pacific region. 

An alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, Mishra graduated in Computer Science and Engineering and was awarded the institute’s Director’s Gold Medal in 1997. 

With extensive experience advising government bodies, including Finance Commissions and GST-related panels, Mishra brings a blend of policy expertise and market insight to the role, as India seeks to strengthen its influence in global economic and development institutions.