WASHINGTON — President Obama on Thursday nominated Jim Yong Kim for a second five-year term as president of the World Bank despite persistent complaints among employees about his leadership at a time when the mission of the global development institution is in question.
The bank’s board announced two days earlier that it was beginning to consider who would be its next president, inviting nominations as it did for the first time in 2012. While many World Bank watchers expect Mr. Kim to be reappointed, given the seven-decade tradition of choosing an American picked by the United States, the bank’s largest contributor, they say he will have to work to solidify support.
His nomination was made shortly after midnight in a statement from Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew. Because Thursday was the first day for nominations, the administration was signaling its strong support for Mr. Kim by making its announcement just minutes into the day, according to a Treasury official. Read more