New Vice-Governor for Social Development Strategy begins mandate

19 December 2016

PARIS – Rosa María Sánchez-Yebra Alonso began today her five-year term in office as Vice-Governor for Social Development Strategy at the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB).

Ms Sánchez-Yebra Alonso, a Spanish national, was appointed Vice-Governor by the Bank’s Governing Board at the CEB Joint Meeting in June 2016. She is a graduate of the School for Economic and Commercial Studies of Public Administration (CECO) and holds an MBA from IE Business School, and also a PhD and an MSc in Pharmacy from the University of Santiago de Compostela.

She has previously held senior posts in Spain’s public administration, and has served as Director General of the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness. Before joining the CEB, she was Secretary General of the Treasury and Financial Policy. She is succeeding Apolonio Ruiz-Ligero, who completed his mandate on 17 December.

Mr Ruiz-Ligero served as CEB Vice-Governor for fifteen years, holding three consecutive mandates. During his time in office, he was involved in the shaping of the CEB’s strategy for loans, projects and development, led various working groups, and contributed to raising the Bank’s visibility.

CEB Governor Rolf Wenzel said: “On behalf of everyone at the CEB I would like to thank Mr Ruiz-Ligero for his service to the Bank over the past fifteen years and for his remarkable commitment. I am sure that Ms Sánchez-Yebra Alonso, with her background and experience, will make a significant contribution to the CEB’s management team. I look forward to working with her.”

Set up in 1956, the CEB (Council of Europe Development Bank) has 41 member states. Twenty-two Central, Eastern and South Eastern European countries, forming the Bank's target countries, are listed among the member states. As a major instrument of the policy of solidarity in Europe, the Bank finances social projects by making available resources raised in conditions reflecting the quality of its rating (Aa1 with Moody's, outlook stable, AA+ with Standard & Poor's, outlook stable and AA+ with Fitch Ratings, outlook stable). It thus grants loans to its member states, and to financial institutions and local authorities in its member states for the financing of projects in the social sector, in accordance with its Articles of Agreement.