Xiaoqing Yu is the World Bank Division Director for the Western Balkans, a role she assumed in July 2022. In this position, she oversees the strategy and programs of the World Bank in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia. Based in Vienna, she is also the Head of Office of the World Bank in Austria.
Before this role, Xiaoqing was the Director of Strategy and Operations for the Europe and Central Asia region, a position she held starting in July 2020. In that capacity, together with the Regional Vice President and the regional leadership team, she was responsible for developing operational strategies, implementing operational policies, and delivering both operational and knowledge services to across the region.
Prior to her appointment for Europe and Central Asia, Xiaoqing served as the Director of Strategy and Operations for the East Asia and the Pacific region, and the Director of Strategy and Operations for the World Bank¡¯s Human Development Global Practice Vice Presidency. She was also the World Bank Global Practice Director for Social Protection and Labor.
Xiaoqing holds a bachelor's degree in Economics from Peking University and a Ph.D. in Economics from Cornell University.