MANILA, PHILIPPINES – The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has appointed Yasuyuki Sawada, a professor at the University of Tokyo’s Graduate School of Economics, as Chief Economist.

Mr Sawada is expected to assume office in the spring of 2017 after going through formal procedures at the University of Tokyo.

Mr Sawada, a Japanese national, has more than 20 years of experience as an economist, researcher and academic.

He has worked at the ADB Institute in Tokyo and served as a consultant for various projects at the World Bank Group.

A leading figure in development economics and applied microeconometrics, he has also served as a visiting professor at Stanford University’s Stanford Center for International Development, and adjunct professor of economics at Korea University.

“I’m humbled and excited to join ADB at this pivotal moment in Asia’s development journey,” Mr Sawada said.

“As the key knowledge institution in the region, ADB strives to provide its developing member countries with the best research and policy advice it can offer to promote their development agenda.

“I look forward to contributing to this effort,” he said.

As Chief Economist, Mr Sawada will act as ADB’s spokesperson on economic issues and head its Economic Research and Regional Cooperation Department, which carries out policy research on development challenges facing Asia and the Pacific.