The World Bank has announced the appointment of Fabrizio Zarcone as its new Country Manager for Armenia, effective July 1, 2025. Zarcone, an Italian national with over two decades of experience in development roles across various regions including Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and Sub-Saharan Africa, will lead the World Bank's policy dialogue with the Armenian government and development partners.
Zarcone is tasked with overseeing the implementation of the World Bank Group’s Country Partnership Framework for Armenia. He will ensure effective execution of ongoing projects and recently approved initiatives in energy and water sectors while managing the country team based in Yerevan.
“I am honored to join the World Bank team in Armenia and to build on our strong partnership with the government and people of Armenia,” said Zarcone. “My focus will be on supporting the country’s development priorities, especially in strengthening resilience, creating jobs, and investing in human capital while also advancing climate action and inclusive growth.”
Prior to this role, Zarcone served as Country Manager for Thailand. His previous positions include Country Manager for Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, and the Slovak Republic where he managed a diverse portfolio of technical assistance projects. He also held similar roles in Costa Rica and El Salvador.
Earlier in his career, Zarcone worked on budget support operations covering West Bank and Gaza. He holds a Ph.D. in Management Sciences from Escuela Superior de Administración y Dirección de Empresas (ESADE) along with a master’s degree in European economics and law.
The World Bank has been partnering with Armenia since 1992. Over three decades, it has provided more than $2.5 billion to support various development areas such as infrastructure, education, health care, social protection, and public sector modernization. The current focus is on promoting inclusive growth by enhancing human capital resilience and accelerating green transition efforts.