Xiaohong Yang joined ADB’s Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department as Chief Thematic Officer on 31 March 2021. Prior to this appointment, she was the ADB’s Country Director for Pakistan since early 2017, where she led the ADB’s operational, knowledge and partnership efforts to building up key infrastructure, institutions and reforms in the area of energy, transport, water, urban, agriculture, finance, social sector, and public-private partnerships.
She joined ADB in 1998. Her extensive experience in sustainable development includes two decades leading the ADB’s work in two regional operational departments. Between 2013 and 2016, she was the Director for Transport and Communications Division working for ten Central and West Asia Countries, and from 2002 to 2012 she held increasingly responsible positions including principal transport economist and lead transport specialist in the East Asia Department. Prior to joining ADB, she worked with the World Bank as a financial specialist for five years. Ms. Yang holds a postgraduate master’s degree in Economics from Peking University, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Finance from the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, PRC. She is a Certified Public Accountant.