World Bank President James Wolfensohn, set to leave his post in June, said on Wednesday he hoped the institution's shareholder governments will appoint his successor in time to ensure an overlap and smooth transition. The World Bank chief, who offered no names of possible candidates, also said he was preparing a guide for his successor on how to run the global lender.
"We're already preparing a transition manual which will be an ABC guide on how to run the bank, which no doubt bootlegged copies will be made available to the press, then you can all know the secrets of the institution," Wolfensohn told a news conference to discuss the bank's lead role in the tsunami reconstruction efforts.
"It was something I lacked when I came in and I would like my successor to have it, so I am doing everything I can to prepare for whoever the successor is," he added.
Appointed by Clinton to head the global development institution, Wolfensohn has said he will leave the bank at the end of his tenure on May 31, after the Bush administration made it known it wanted its own person at the head of the bank.
Under an informal agreement, the head of the World Bank has always been headed by an American, while the top job in the International Monetary Fund is held by a European.
"What I would be very pleased about is if they could decide on a successor in time for me to be able to work with whoever that person was for a period of time to make a smooth transition," Wolfensohn said.
He said he did not see his plans to leave on May 31 being delayed by the bank's lead role in the tsunami reconstruction effort.
"I'd like to have everything done by the time I go but I think that is unlikely," Wolfensohn said. "I don't think I should wait around to complete this or anything else, there will always be things for us to do."
"What I plan to do in the next five months is to work as hard as I can on every one of the issues that is before us. I don't intend to stop working until June 1," he added
Asked what he will do after he leaves the bank, Wolfensohn quipped, "Have a rest".