‘White House backs Indra Nooyi for World Bank chief’
WASHINGTON: The White House is reportedly considering Indra Nooyi, the Indian-american former CEO of Pepsi, as the president of World Bank to succeed Jim Yong Kim, who will step down in February.
The New York Times, which first reported the move, said Ivanka Trump, President Donald Trump’s daughter and adviser, had floated Nooyi’s name for the position, but it was not yet clear if she would accept if the position is offered. The post has always been held by an American.
Ivanka is among the three people conducting the search for a successor to Kim, who resigned earlier this month. The other two are Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney.
Others in the race include David Malpass, undersecretary of treasury, and Ray Washburne, who is heading the Overseas Private Investment Corporation. Both of them had served as advisers to Trump’s presidential campaign.
With Ivanka Trump backing her, Nooyi could stand the best chance, given how close the president is to his first daughter, who has called Nooyi a “mentor”.
She wrote in a tweet last August, “The great @Indranooyi is stepping down as Pepsico CEO, after 12 yrs. Indra, you are a mentor + inspiration to so many, myself included. I am deeply grateful for your friendship. Thank you for your passionate engagement on issues that benefit the people of this country, and beyond.”
It wasn’t clear yet if Nooyi will take the nomination. She had faced criticism for joining the president’s business advisory council that was disbanded later. And there had been no statement from the White House confirming the report, or denying it.