Ms Okoro is leaving her role as global general counsel for HSBC Global Asset Management and deputy general counsel of HSBC Retail Banking to step up as the next group senior vice-president and general counsel at the World Bank. The appointment will make Ms Okoro the World Bank’s principal adviser and spokesperson on all legal matters; she will lead the World Bank’s Legal Vice Presidency, which is responsible for legal services provided to internal and external clients, as well as advising directly the organisation’s board, management, Inspection Panel, and the chief executive of its Global Environmental Facility Program, Naoko Ishii. Ms Okoro will replace current World Bank GC Anne-Marie Leroy. 

Distinguished career

A British national, Ms Okoro has already enjoyed an illustrious career. Prior to her tenure at HSBC Global Asset Management and HSBC Retail Banking, she served as global general counsel for Baring Asset Management and earlier as head of legal for corporate and asset management at Schroders. She is a member of the management board of the Panel of Recognised International Market Expert in Finance in the Hague, and was named as one of the 100 Women to Watch by the Female FTSE Board earlier this year.

An innovative ‘thought leader’

Mr Kim commented: ‘Sandie Okoro is a highly regarded thought leader with a strong track record of developing new legal approaches in the field of international finance. Her experience managing legal and financial risks at global financial institutions will make her a great asset for the Bank Group and our Board.’ With more than 10,000 employees across 120 offices around the world, the World Bank Group is tasked with providing financial assistance to developing economies with the aim of eradicating extreme poverty by 2030.

Diversity champion

Ms Okoro is also a high-profile advocate of improving the diversity profile of the legal profession worldwide, and currently serves as an ambassador for the Law Society Diversity Access Scheme. In an interview with GC Magazine earlier this year, she commented: ‘Diversity and inclusion make great business sense. You need diversity through your organisation and through your legal team. Lawyers have a skillset of seeing what’s not there. Lawyers can be invaluable in getting diversity metrics that are viable and meaningful.’

Sources: Legal Business; Law Gazette; World Bank