Catarina Bjorlin Hansen has been appointed Head of Moldova for the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). She will be based in the capital, Chisinau, and take up her duties on 1 September 2023.
Ms Bjorlin Hansen said: “I am excited to lead the Bank’s operations in Moldova, a country that plays an important geostrategic role in the EBRD’s portfolio. During my mandate, I will focus on driving investments that help Moldova to overcome its economic challenges and foster closer ties with the European Union.”
A Swedish national, Ms Bjorlin Hansen is currently the EBRD’s Regional Head of the Caucasus, based in Tbilisi. She has more than 20 years of banking experience and has held various senior positions at the Bank.
Ms Bjorlin Hansen holds a master's degree in development finance from SOAS University of London and bachelor's degrees in development and business administration studies from Uppsala University in Sweden.
Ms Bjorlin Hansen succeeds Angela Sax, who has led the Bank’s business in Moldova since 2018 and has been appointed Head of the Bank’s Ukraine Hub in London, leading the coordination of the EBRD’s activities and donor flows in Ukraine. During Ms Sax’s tenure, the Bank has significantly increased its lending in Moldova, posting an all-time high of €525 million in 2022.
The EBRD is a leading institutional investor in Moldova and, to date, has invested more than €2 billion in the country through 166 projects. The Bank focuses on creating an environment that supports private-sector activity, promoting European standards across sectors and regional integration to bring domestic producers closer to their markets, as well as developing efficient and sustainable public utilities that have a direct impact on people’s lives.