The EBRD has appointed Marie-Alexandra Veilleux as the first head of the Tunisian office, a further step forward in the EBRD’s support for the country’s economic development and reform process.
This appointment follows the conclusion of the agreement with the Tunisian authorities signed in December 2012, which allows the EBRD to establish a permanent local presence.
The EBRD began investing in Tunisia in September 2012, responding to calls from the international community. The EBRD will focus on supporting private companies, with a focus on SMEs, restructuring and strengthening the financial sector, promoting energy efficiency and a sustainable energy sector, as well as facilitating non-sovereign financing for the infrastructure.
Hildegard Gacek, Managing Director for the southern and eastern Mediterranean (SEMED) region, said: “Tunisia is the first country in our new region where the EBRD will open a permanent local office and build up a strong team in the country. This appointment is a key milestone in the EBRD’s operations in Tunisia and part of our long-term cooperation and commitment to the country. With this new presence on the ground we will be able to accelerate our recent investment programme.”
Prior to her appointment as Tunisia’shead of office, Ms Veilleux was already active in the process of the EBRD’s expansion into the SEMED region. Working with the Equity Funds team, she concluded the Bank’s first equity investment in the region, which included Tunisia.
Ms Veilleux joined the EBRD in 2007 and worked for the Financial Institutions and the Equity Funds teams. She led a number of equity and debt transactions for commercial banks in eastern Europe, Central Asia and Russia, where she spent three years.
A dual French and Canadian national, Ms Veilleux has extensive experience in the banking sector as well as the private equity industry in emerging markets. She has successfully led a number of large and small transactions in consulting and banking and has been part of the governance bodies of several financial institutions.
Ms Veilleux is a graduate of HEC Paris and of the Institute of Political Sciences in Paris.
