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In Memoriam - Mr. Ernst-Günther Bröder, First Chairperson of the Inspection Panel

Washington, D.C., December 16, 2013 - It is with great sadness that we have learnt about the death of Mr. Ernst-Günther Bröder on December 13, 2013, at the age of 86. Mr. Bröder was the first Chairperson and Panel Member of the World Bank Inspection Panel (1994-1999).

Mr.Bröder was the fourth President of the European Investment Bank (EIB) from 1984 to 1993. Prior to that, he held several supervisory and consultative functions in international banks and other institutions. He was a Governor of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and a member of the special advisory group for the Asian Development Bank. He was a member of the Panel of Conciliators for the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes, Washington, D.C. Mr. Bröder started his professional career on the Board of the Bayer Corporation, and he was a staff at the World Bank in the early 60s.

Mr. Bröder held a Doctorate in Economics from the University of Freiburg, and studied political and natural sciences at the Universities of Cologne, Mainz, and Paris. He wrote and co-authored several books and articles on financial and economic subjects.

Being the first Panel Member and Chairperson at the Inspection Panel, Mr. Bröder made an invaluable contribution to the establishment and effective functioning of this first accountability mechanism with an International Financial Institution. Mr. Bröder will be remembered at the Inspection Panel as a great person, a visionary, a committed development professional with the highest standards of professionalism, integrity and compassion for the most vulnerable. He established very high standards for the operation of the Inspection Panel to ensure its independence, credibility and effectiveness. His legacy will not be forgotten.