MANILA, PHILIPPINES (12 February 2026) — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has appointed Sona Shrestha as Director General of its South Asia Department (SARD), where she will lead the development and implementation of ADB’s strategy and operations in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.
“I am honored to be appointed Director General of South Asia,” said Ms. Shrestha. “I look forward to working closely with our developing member countries in the region to further deepen ADB’s engagement in support of inclusive and sustainable development.”
Ms. Shrestha is a seasoned development leader with over 27 years of professional experience, including 23 years at ADB. Prior to this appointment, Ms. Shrestha was Deputy Director General for SARD. She has also served as Deputy Director General of ADB’s Independent Evaluations Department, Assistant Secretary, Director in the Financial Sector and Trade Division for Southeast Asia, and Deputy Country Director for Indonesia. In earlier professional roles in ADB, she gathered extensive operations experience across Central and West Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.
A national of Nepal, Ms. Shrestha holds doctorate and master’s degrees in economics from University of California in the United States. She also has a bachelor’s degree in economics from Smith College, Massachusetts.
ADB is a leading multilateral development bank supporting inclusive, resilient, and sustainable growth across Asia and the Pacific. Working with its members and partners to solve complex challenges together, ADB harnesses innovative financial tools and strategic partnerships to transform lives, build quality infrastructure, and safeguard our planet. Founded in 1966, ADB is owned by 69 members—50 from the region.
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