In her role, Maser drives the organization’s long-term strategy to create markets, offer new solutions for the private sector and crowd in more private investment to help MENA countries grow, provide jobs, and increase shared prosperity.

A Swiss national, Maser has 30 years of international private and public sector experience, with a focus on economic development and cooperation, trade and investment, the financial sector, and multilateral organizations. Prior to her appointment, she was the Swiss Ambassador to Vietnam, promoting bilateral relations and supervising Switzerland’s economic development program in the country.

Previously, Maser led the economic development and cooperation division at Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, a long-term IFC partner in fostering sustainable economic growth and implementing economic policy, infrastructure and climate change programs in developing countries.

She also has extensive banking experience, having worked at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in London on its trade finance program and on green credit lines, the Foundation for Sustainable Development in LA Paz providing financial guarantees for smaller businesses, and at the Swiss Bank Corporation in New York handling trade finance for Latin America.   Maser holds an Executive MBA in Business Engineering from the University of St. Gallen.