Leonardo Iacovone is Manager of the Finance, Competitiveness and Investment Global Practice in the Western and Central Africa region at the World Bank. Previously a Professor of Economics and Lead Economist at the World Bank, he joined the Bank as a Young Professional in 2008 and has worked in the Development Research Group, the Financial and Private Sector Development Unit of the Africa Region, the Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship Global Practice, the ECA and LAC regions, and as Global Lead for Firm Growth and Productivity within the Firms, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Global Team.

Before joining the World Bank, he worked as an economic advisor in Latin America and Southern Africa for UNDP, WTO, UNIDO, USAID, the EU, and the Government of Mozambique. His work focuses on firm dynamics and productivity, management, impact evaluation, trade and FDI, access to finance, entrepreneurship, innovation and technology adoption, and youth employment. Leonardo is also an Adjoint Professor of Economics at the Hertie School, a Research Affiliate with IPA’s SME Initiative, and an Affiliated Researcher with J-PAL. His research has been published in leading journals including Science, PNAS, the Review of Economic Studies, Economic Journal, Journal of Development Economics, and Journal of International Economics, and his work was recognized with the 2009 Paul Geroski Prize. He holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Sussex.