Image: Guillermo Perry
PRESS RELEASE
September 28, 2019 | The GDN staff, Board of Directors and grantees express their deep sadness at the passing of Guillermo Perry, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors at the Global Development Network (GDN), a colleague and friend.
Former Minister of Finance in Colombia, Perry was a distinguished economist and professor at the Universidad de Los Andes in Colombia. He had a long association with GDN, which began when GDN was launched by the World Bank, 20 years ago. Since then, he was instrumental in the organization’s success. He was part of GDN’s journey in becoming an independent public international organization, helped the organization secure multiple rounds of funding, co-led large global research projects, and secured wide-ranging support from across constituencies.
Whether as a member of the Board, or a mentor to young researchers from around the world as part of GDN’s global research programs, Guillermo had an unwavering commitment to GDN’s mission – to build a world in which evidence and scholarly knowledge inform and inspire development and policy decisions. His deep understanding of political economy, and, most of all his dedication and humanity, inspired many. His unique insights on governance, macroeconomic stability and vulnerability will be missed by the profession. He made complicated matters seem easy, and understandable, and his thirst for knowledge was insatiable.
Most of all, Guillermo’s passion and energy, and his gentle reassuring smile will be sorely missed at GDN. We send our sincere condolences to his family and friends.