The World Bank has appointed Dutch national Johannes Zutt as country director for Kenya, Comoros, Eritrea, Seychelles and Somalia.

A statement from the Bank's office in Nairobi said on Friday that Zutt who will be based in Nairobi joined the Bretton Wood institution in August 2000, where he has held various positions in the Africa department, the East Asia department, the office of the Managing Director, and most recently the Integrity department.

"Zutt has wide-ranging experience in Africa, having served as the country program coordinator for Angola, Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia. He has also been the Bank's country program coordinator for China and Mongolia," the statement said.

Prior to joining the World Bank, Zutt was involved in program planning, monitoring and evaluation in various countries in eastern and southern Africa.

He has also served as a lecturer at the University of Nairobi. Zutt's top priority in the countries under his responsibility will be to strengthen the Bank's cooperation, with a view to accelerating and sustaining poverty reduction.

Zutt whose appointment became effective on January 12 replaces Colin Bruce, who served as Country Director until June 2008.

(Xinhua News Agency January 16, 2009)