EBRD appoints Khalil Dinguizli as first Head of Senegal

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has appointed Khalil Dinguizli as its first Head of Senegal, which became an EBRD member and country of operation this year.

Based in Dakar, Mr Dinguizli will lead the establishment of the EBRD’s presence and business in the country, reporting to Heike Harmgart, Managing Director for sub-Saharan Africa.

The move follows the Board of Governors’ approval – at the EBRD’s 2023 Annual Meeting in Samarkand – of amendments to the Agreement Establishing the EBRD, enabling the Bank to operate in sub-Saharan Africa and Iraq.

Mr Dinguizli said: “I am thrilled to take on the responsibility of launching the EBRD’s activities in Senegal. The country has tremendous potential and ambition, and I look forward to working closely with our partners, clients and stakeholders to unlock new opportunities, foster greener, more inclusive growth and support sustainable development.”

A dual Tunisian and French national, Mr Dinguizli joined the Bank in 2014 in Tunisia, where he was responsible for investments and financing for the private sector and became Acting Head of Tunisia in 2020. He was appointed Head of Lebanon in 2021, leading the EBRD’s activities and support to the private sector during challenging times, as well as coordinating with the authorities and international partners support to reforms.

Before joining the EBRD, Mr Dinguizli worked for 10 years in investment banking at Crédit Agricole CIB in Paris. He graduated in finance from IHEC Carthage in Tunisia and ESCP Business School in Paris.

The EBRD promotes private-sector development across 42 emerging economies, helping them transition towards a greener, more inclusive and more digital future. The Bank has invested more than €215 billion since its inception in 1991, with 79 per cent of this directed to the private sector.