The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, announced on July 7 the appointment of Sanaa Abouzaid as Country Manager for Mexico. She succeeds Juan Gonzalo Flores, who has moved on to other responsibilities within the Group.
A seasoned development finance professional and experienced leader, Sanaa Abouzaid has demonstrated strong capabilities in driving strategy, operations, and transformation, leading a multicultural team across three continents. Prior to her appointment in Mexico, Moroccan national Abouzaid headed IFC operations in Central America from Panama, overseeing a portfolio spanning Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala. Her mandate focused on strengthening financial systems, expanding access to finance for SMEs, particularly those led by women, and promoting sustainable infrastructure investments through public-private partnerships.
In her new role, Sanaa Abouzaid will prioritize job creation, a key objective of the World Bank Group, in alignment with IFC’s three strategic pillars for Mexico and the region: inclusion, sustainability, and productivity. She will also work to reinforce the private sector’s pivotal role in development, expand opportunities for collaboration with the public sector, and attract new investment into the country.
“I am thrilled to join the IFC team in Mexico and to contribute to creating opportunities that support job creation and inclusive, sustainable economic growth. I strongly believe in the strategic role of the private sector in job generation and in IFC’s ability to catalyze high-impact investments,” said Sanaa Abouzaid.
An Exemplary International Career
Born in Morocco, Sanaa Abouzaid holds an MBA in Finance and Investments from George Washington University, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in finance and accounting from the ISCAE (Higher Institute of Commerce and Business Administration) in Morocco. She is fluent in English, French, Arabic, Spanish, and Italian.
Over her 22-year career at IFC, she has built her expertise on the ground in emerging markets across Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.
Before leading IFC operations in Central America, Abouzaid served as Regional Head of Corporate Governance for the MENA region at IFC. In this role, she supported numerous companies facing complex environmental, social, and institutional governance (ESG) challenges. Her areas of expertise include board restructuring, risk management, internal controls, shareholder rights, transparency and disclosure, and the development and implementation of internal ESG policies and procedures.
A Global Authority on Family Business Governance
Sanaa Abouzaid is also a recognized expert in family businesses. She advises family-owned enterprises around the world on strengthening resilience and ensuring long-term sustainability. Her approach emphasizes education, engagement, and the establishment of appropriate structures and policies. Her work encompasses succession planning, strategy, improved communication, effective governance, training, and the development of family constitutions and governance frameworks.
She is the author of IFC’s renowned Family Business Governance Handbook, translated into 21 languages and widely used by companies, consultants, and academic institutions worldwide.
Additionally, she is a founding member of the Corporate Governance Development Framework for Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) and has contributed to the creation of the governance methodology used by leading development institutions globally.
A frequent speaker, panelist, and moderator at high-level international conferences and in business school programs, Sanaa Abouzaid addresses topics including financial inclusion, SMEs, ESG, leadership, gender, and family business governance.
