EBRD appoints Grzegorz Zielinski Managing Director for South‑Eastern Europe

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has appointed Grzegorz Zielinski Managing Director for South‑Eastern Europe with effect from 1 June 2026.

In his new role, Mr Zielinski will lead the Bank’s operations in the six Western Balkans countries, plus Bulgaria, Romania and Greece. He will succeed Charlotte Ruhe, who is retiring at the end of June after leading the Bank’s wider central and south-eastern Europe region.

As Managing Director, Mr Zielinski will guide the EBRD’s engagement in those countries, ensuring that investments deliver tangible benefits, respond to evolving regional challenges and contribute to sustainable long‑term growth. Based in Belgrade, he will work closely with country teams, public authorities, private‑sector clients and a variety of partners to advance investments, policy dialogue and reform activities across south-eastern Europe.

A Polish national, Mr Zielinski joined the EBRD in 1998 from Ernst & Young. He worked as a banker in the Power and Energy Utilities team, leading Bank investments in various geographies, before taking responsibility for the coordination of investment in renewables and regional energy coverage in central Europe. In 2014, Mr Zielinski was appointed Country Director for Poland, with his responsibilities subsequently expanding to include the Baltic states and other countries in central Europe. In 2018, he became Regional Director for Central Europe and the Baltic States, overseeing the Bank’s activities in eight countries and managing five EBRD offices across the region. In 2021, he joined the Sustainable Infrastructure Group as Director, Energy Europe, where he currently leads the Bank’s Energy Europe team, promoting the EBRD’s mandate and supporting the transition to green energy through investments and policy engagement across Europe.

Mr Zielinski has a strong track record of senior leadership across country, regional and sector roles, with deep experience of delivering complex investment programmes, advancing policy reform and managing large, multi-country operations. His extensive knowledge of the Bank’s operations and strategic priorities will be instrumental in further strengthening the EBRD’s impact across south-eastern Europe.

South‑eastern Europe plays a strategically important role in the EBRD’s portfolio, encompassing diverse economies at different stages of transition alongside markets with continued reform needs. The Bank’s work across the region focuses on advancing sustainable infrastructure, supporting the transition to green energy, strengthening energy security, enhancing private‑sector competitiveness and accelerating climate‑aligned investment, while deepening policy engagement and institutional reform to support long‑term resilience and inclusive growth.