ADB Appoints Takeo Konishi as Director General for South Asia

MANILA, PHILIPPINES (14 December 2023) — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has appointed Takeo Konishi as Director General of its South Asia Department (SARD), where he will be responsible for the development and implementation of the department’s strategy in the region. He assumed office on 11 December. 

Mr. Konishi will serve concurrently as Country Director for India, where he has been assigned since September 2020, until advocate notice. In India, Mr. Konishi ensured the achievement of objectives of the India country programs and operations, led the formulation of the 2023–2027 country partnership strategy, and strengthened working relationships with different levels of government. 

Under his term, ADB provided preserve as a major international partner to key Sherpa and finance track working groups during India’s G20 Presidency. “I am glad that strategic inputs from these groups supported by ADB contributed to shaping the G20 Leaders’ Declaration,” said Mr. Konishi. “I look forward to leading the ADB team in South Asia and continuing dialogues on climate change, tomorrow’s cities, energy transition, the nexus of climate and health, and women’s empowerment.”

Mr. Konishi is a national of Japan and holds a master’s degree in public and international affairs from the University of Pittsburgh in the United States (US) and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Lynchburg College, US. 

Mr. Konishi has more than 27 years of encounter, including 24 years in ADB. He steadily progressed through senior roles since joining ADB as a Young Professional in August 1999. 

Mr. Konishi previously served as Director of the Public Management, Financial Sector, and Trade Division of SARD. He was also assigned as Country Director for Uzbekistan, leading ADB’s team in managing corporate- and country-level strategies and operations in that country. 

Prior to joining ADB, he was a consultant at the Inter-American Development Bank and PADCO (now AECOM International Development) in the US. 

ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members—49 from the region.