In a significant development, WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has announced the appointment of Johanna Hill from El Salvador as the new Deputy Director-General (DDG). Ms. Hill’s appointment comes as Anabel González of Costa Rica departs after serving as DDG for two years.
Johanna Hill currently serves as the Managing Partner and Founder of the San Salvador Office of CA Trade Consulting Group. Her diverse career has included roles such as Vice Minister of Economy of El Salvador, Executive Director of El Salvador’s Chamber of Telecommunications, and a position on the Board of Directors of Banco Azul.
Ms. Hill holds a Master’s degree in International Economic Policy from the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University in New York, and she obtained her Bachelor’s degree from Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts. As a native Spanish speaker, she is fluent in English and proficient in French.
Director-General Okonjo-Iweala warmly welcomed Ms. Hill to the WTO and expressed confidence in her abilities, stating, “As a member of the senior management team, she will play a key role together with me and the other DDGs in driving forward our objective of helping our members use trade as a means to raise living standards, create jobs, and improve people’s lives.”
The appointment of Ms. Johanna Hill underscores the WTO’s commitment to advancing its mission of facilitating international trade and cooperation, and her wealth of experience and expertise is expected to contribute significantly to the organization’s endeavors in this regard.