Maja Kadievska Vojnovic nominated as Macedonian staffer to World Bank in Washington

The Government of North Macedonia has chosen Maja Kadievska Vojnovic to serve as the country's staff member in the World Bank office in Washington, the administration announced on Monday.

Officials say Kadievska Vojnovic will join the Office of the Executive Director that represents the constituency of countries which includes North Macedonia, but precise details about the length and terms of her assignment have not yet been released. This is not an Executive Director post; rather she will be part of the team that advises and defends constituency positions on loans, development programs and institutional policies.

Professional and public record

Kadievska Vojnovic served as Vice‑Governor of the National Bank of the Republic of North Macedonia from 2011 to 2018, with responsibility for financial markets and payment systems. After leaving the central bank she worked as a university lecturer and as an economic analyst.

In 2022 she joined the Executive Committee of VMRO‑DPMNE and became one of the party's more prominent economic critics of the then‑government; she remained in the party's top body until 2024. Her name was later floated as a possible candidate for governor of the National Bank.

Late last year Kadievska Vojnovic was linked to the takeover of Stopanska banka Bitola by the Serbian Alta Bank; the opposition alleged political connections between the new owners and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. The Social Democratic Union (SDSM) raised concerns about potential political ties and pointed to her proposed nomination to the bank's supervisory board, which was withdrawn after a few days.

North Macedonia has previously placed officials in the World Bank Executive Director's office in Washington: Hari Kostov held a post in the 1990s, and Nina Fiti Nedelkovska served two terms from August 2018 to September 2020 and from August 2022 to September 2024. Kadievska Vojnovic is expected to take the next rotation of the Macedonian position.

Photo: press material from the event