The World Bank's most powerful shareholders should avoid backroom political deals in appointing a replacement for James Wolfensohn as president. Instead they should take an open and transparent approach, a top bank official says.
Peter Woicke, outgoing head of the International Finance Corporation, the Bank's private lending arm, said any backroom deal between the US and Europe to replace James Wolfensohn, who steps down in May, would damage the credibility of his successor.
He said the bank should appoint a search committee to draw up a shortlist of qualified candidates.
"An open process with a search panel should be the approach for all multilateral institutions. The institutions suffer as a result of the way they pick their leadership," he said.
It is unusual for a senior bank staff member to speak out on such a controversial matter. Mr Woicke's comments reflect concern within the bank about the process.
The appointment of the president has traditionally been part of a carve-up in which Europe selects the managing director of the International Monetary Fund and the US picks the World Bank head. The US and western European countries dominate votes on the World Bank and IMF boards.
Manish Bapna, director of the Bank Information Center, a Washington-based watchdog, said: "The bank has put good governance at the centre of its policy agenda for developing countries, but the way in which it governs itself leaves much to be desired."
The US Treasury has promised to consult widely on the presidency and has been talking to World Bank executive directors and other government representatives behind the scenes. However, it has proposed not a specific candidate.
Officials from G7 countries say it would be hard to oppose the US-favoured candidate after the US stayed out of the process last year, allowing Europe to agree on Rodrigo Rato as its IMF candidate.
Potential US candidates include Randall Tobias, former chief executive of Eli Lilly, and Peter McPherson, president of Michigan State University. Outside the US, Colin Powell is seen a very strong candidate.
