Centennial Group Associates

Biography: Rolando Arrivillaga, Associate and CFO

Arrivillaga is an economist with considerable experience in structural adjustment, financial sector reform and development credit. He did his undergraduate studies at the University of California at Berkeley and his graduate work in applied economic research at Stanford University. He has over 30 years experience in development work covering several countries in Latin America and Asia. He worked for the World Bank for 28 years, retiring as Manager in the Co financing and Trust Fund Department and as a member of the World Bank's Resource Management Board. Prior to his Bank Service, he was an economic advisor in Guatemala dealing with rural development programs in land reform affected areas.

At the World Bank his operational work encompassed a number of assignments, including among others, the following: lead loan officer for various countries in Latin America and Asia; Agricultural Credit and Principal Agricultural Officer; Environmental Coordinator; and Chief of the Resident Missions in Bolivia and the Philippines.

Mr. Arrivillaga has a rich experience in development economics, including finance, trade, and investment policies. As the head of the World Bank Resident Mission in the Philippines he was responsible for helping design and oversees implementation of comprehensive programs of structural reform in the financial, public corporate, and the industry and agricultural sectors. These programs are amongst the most comprehensive in developing countries undergoing reform in the mid 80's and 90's. The program in the Philippines included a comprehensive rehabilitation of the Development Bank, the Privatization of the Philippine National Bank, and the design implementation of the Asset Privatization Fund. During his assignments in Latin America, he helped design and implement a program of rehabilitation for the Development Bank of Paraguay (Banco Nacional de Fomento del Paraguay); in Bolivia he helped design innovative credit schemes to reach the rural poor in the highlands and lowlands of the country.

Mr. Arrivillaga helped design and oversee World Bank financed lines of development credit for various sector and segments in several countries. While in the Philippines and Bolivia, he oversaw and/or participated in number of studies, lending operations, technical assistance and policy dialogue aimed at helping overcome deep financial and economic problems and/or crisis.