A TRIBUTE TO YVES ROVANI

OUR COLLEAGUE AND

FRIEND

Introduction

A very special person left us in May of 2013 at the age of 85. Yves Rovani was the son of a French war veteran from the Isle of Corsica. Yves was born in the north of France in 1928. He served in the French army, was educated in the highest institutions of learning in France, was 200% French in everything he put his fine hand to, created a mystique around himself inside the World Bank, where he served with great distinction from 1958 to 1994, and was the finest leader and boss any of the participants in this tribute could have imagined having. This compendium of testimonials to Yves has been assembled, with much affection and grati-tude, from amongst those who served with him in the Bank. It is dedicated to the Rovani fam-ily, known to all of us because Yves wanted us to know his family. His home on Hoban Street in DC was also home to many of us as well. Evelyne, Jean-Stephen, Pierre-Antoine: you are family to us and always will be so. Colleagues and friends of this remarkable man came together at the Bistro Francais in George-town on 24 November 2013 to celebrate his life in the manner he would have very much ap-proved. The attendance was legion, the wine offered by the Bistro generous and delicious, and the speeches tres a propos. Yves paid the bill—merci infiniment! Those who have put together this memorial to Yves are themselves former colleagues and longtime friends. They form the managing committee of the assemblage of energy sector World Bank veterans and members of the 1818 Society, the Energy Group. Launched in 2006 under Yves’ inspiration, this Group has kept its membership in touch with developments in energy-related subjects at least once a calendar quarter, ever since. Le grand patron has left us to continue his legacy. Rovani family: read these tributes with joy. They are rendered with that in mind. We will never forget Yves Rovani.

Contributors to the Tribute

Eugene McCarthy DeAnne Julius Fernando Zuniga Trevor Byer Moeen Qureshi Jacques Coudol Arturo Roa Bernard Decaux Althea Duersten Humayun Mirza James Bond

Vineet Nayyar Yves Albouy Saul Arlosoroff Phillipe Bourcier John Davis Ian Johnson Hans Wyss David Jones Olivier Fremond Ian Hume Marc Babin

Rachel Weaving Ricardo Halperin Charles McPherson Olivier Lafourcarde Rene Ribi Frank Vogl Masood Ahmed Hal Wackman Mohammad Farhandi Caroline Heider Pablo Guerrero

Miguel Schloss Fernando J. Zúñiga y Rivero P.T. Venugopal Akin Oduolowu Robin Bates D.C.Rao Michael Gillette Tom Fitzgerald Ambroise Fayolle David Gill Eduardo Elejalde Achilles Adamantiades

Eulogy for Yves Rovani Given by Eugene McCarthy at the Memorial Service on June 3,

at St. Stephen Martyr Church in Washington DC

Dear Friends and Colleagues of Yves:

I have been asked to say a few words about Yves before we begin this special memo-

rial service today in celebration of his life, a life which has touched so many people-

here in the US, where he lived for almost 60 years; in his native France; in other coun-

tries of Europe; and in the developing world.

We are all deeply saddened that Yves is no longer with us, none more so than his de-

voted family –his wife, Evelyne, his two sons, Jean Stephen and Pierre Antoine, Jean

Stephen’s wife Cindy, and their two children. They cared for Yves selflessly during

the final weeks and months of his life. To them, especially, we extend our deepest

condolences today.

I have known Yves since 1977 when I joined what would become the first Energy De-

partment of the World Bank. Yves was the founder of that department. Over a period

of more than 35 years, he was first my boss, then my mentor, and would become a

very close friend.

It is unusual for such a close personal relationship to develop from what started as a

professional one. Moreover, there was a decade and a half in age between us and we

had very different cultural backgrounds, too. I remember him once confiding, almost

apologetically: “I am very French”. But I was soon to learn from him the very best

about France: its culture, its cathedrals, its breathtaking countryside, even its politics,

and, of course, its famous wine growing regions, some of which we visited together.

Yves simply loved France.

Yves made an enormously important professional contribution to the work of the

World Bank. His contribution was always marked by the highest standards of profes-

sional integrity, a value he cherished always and passed on to his two sons. It is our

hope that we will find an occasion later this year to recognize more fully this contri-

bution, at a time when many of his colleagues are also able to attend.

Today, I would like to focus on the inspiring personal qualities that have been an inte-

gral part of Yves’ own life. First was his family: for Yves, family was important, and

he was happiest when they were all together- at his home in DC or on holiday in Sani-

bel, Corsica, Alsace, Bordeaux, and in Brittany. Yves was also a person who loved hu-

man beings. He cared deeply about others: for those whose careers had reached a road

block, he asked: how can I help; for others, former colleagues now in ill health- let’s

visit them. He was also deeply loyal to his former staff, many of whom were no longer

in the United States-but he asked after them continually.

cont.

McCarthy cont.

.

For the young, Yves had a special affinity and he made sure they were always part

of his staff. He took risks with them, bringing them on board, often with limited

experience, but placing them with managers, and in assignments, that could de-

velop their talents. He passed on to them his wisdom and experience, adopting

without realizing it the recent advice of the new Pope Francis: “Pass on to the

young your wisdom like a good wine that improves with age”

During the final period of a lengthy illness, which had many ups and downs, I had

the privilege of being with Yves at his home on a number of occasions. The fierce

determination with which he initially fought his illness later changed to an accep-

tance that his end was near. I was touched by his simple words: “Gene, I have had

a good life; I cannot complain”. I realized that he was again teaching me some-

thing: about facing death with courage, and selflessly, an example for us all.

During the final week of his life, I was in Paris. Encouraged by Evelyne, I visited

Notre Dame and Sainte Chapelle, two places Yves knew well. It was for me the

perfect venue to thank Yves for what he had given to me personally in this world

and to pray that we also meet up again in the next.

Today, Yves, we join your family and friends in the celebration of a very special

life -and thank you for all you have given to us.

DeAnne Julius

Like many others, I had the great pleasure to know Yves both as a mentor and as a friend. Al-though we only worked together for 6 years (1976-82), we stayed in touch for the next 30+. He gave me encouragement and sound advice on many career choices and was among the first to send congratulations when I was made a Dame by Queen Elizabeth II last year saying “what took her so long?” What made Yves such an exceptional leader? I think it was two things: he kept his focus on the long-term goal and he built his strategy around people. The first meant that he was al-ways forward- looking and inspirational, even in the face of short-term set-backs. When he started the Energy Department, we were only four people, with a limited budget and remit.

But soon Yves found a way to tap into UNDP funds and to build alliances outside the Bank which enabled us to grow rapidly and take a more comprehensive approach to the developing countries’ energy problems. He never had much regard for the bureaucratic constraints of structure. He once told me that he looked for the best people he could find – and then made up a job for them in his department. Maybe that was why we were such a closely knit team; in my case especially the economics group with Jerry Warford, Bob Saunders and Mohan Mun-asinghe. While most people in the Bank knew Yves as a formidably tal-ented and creative development banker, he was also – first and foremost - a family man. He became especially animated when he spoke of Evelyne or his sons, and he was always interested in our children as they grew up. When I last saw Yves, a few months before his death, the care and tenderness with which

his family had rallied around to support him was evident. Yves told me calmly that he had learned that he was not afraid of death – it was simply the last job he had to do and he was resolved to do it well. May his example and courage continue to guide all of us – friends and family - as we remember a great man and a dear friend who made such a difference in our lives.

Jacques Coudol

Gene asked me recently to say a few words on Yves's relationship with the 1818 French Chapter.

I am at the Board of the French Chapter, and, before going further, may I sug-gest to you, if you are interested, to consult the Website of our association (“societe 1818 france”). You will find there many photographs and videos of our annual trips, many of which include images of Yves.

Now, let me say that when I was a staff member at the Bank, I had no working relationship with Yves since we worked in very different parts of the Bank. Neverthe-less, I was already aware that somewhere in the Bank there was a Frenchman of out-standing reputation. From time to time, we met socially. I discovered then that this great professional was also a man of immense human values, a big heart and a big brain. A man able to listen, to understand, to manage and to lead. At the same time, a compassionate person celebrating life and love in all his actions. Very soon he was a close friend.

Personally, I have very deep and glorious recollections of a large number of our gath-erings both in Washington during the past 20 years and in France, in Bordeaux, Lyon,

Marseille, Nantes, Aix en Provence and, last but not least, in Beaune, the capital of Bur-gundy wines. There in 2010, Yves and his marvelous and generous son, Pierre-Antoine, also a famous wine expert, or-ganized receptions, meetings and tastings, including a fasci-nating lecture on the making and love of wine in Burgundy. Whether in the Bank or with the French Chapter, Yves is an essential point of reference. I could add that in many occa-sions, when we were together, Yves loved to speak of the years he spent in the Energy Depart-ment he had created. But, in this

context, there was one thing more important for him that his professional standing, It was his colleagues -- some are here today -- for whom he often expressed admiration, deep understanding and, for some of them, friendship and fondness…

Depending on our faith, some of us may feel that Yves is still with us … some-where... In any case we have, each of us – family and friends -- a part of him in our souvenirs. It is therefore an invaluable privilege for us to be, all together, the Memory of Yves Rovani..

Masood Ahmed

I was captivated by Yves from the first meeting, when he interviewed me for a job in the En-

ergy Department as a graduating YP. Apart from watching him move around from one lit ciga-

rette to another, placed strategically in different locations in his office, what was compelling

even in that first meeting, was just how much of a vision he had for the problems and opportu-

nities in the developing countries and how the World Bank could contribute to making lives

better for the people who lived in them. I was very lucky that Yves hired me. I learned from

him every day for the next seven years. I learned from his vision, from his experience, from his

instincts and skills as a manager, and from his strategic foresight as a leader. There are many

examples of Yves’ leadership but one that embodies his way of thinking was his reaction to the

oil price increases of 1979. While many in the Bank saw this primarily as a question of finan-

cial flows and transfers, Yves immediately spotted that this would have a fundamental impact

on energy production and consumption possibilities across the developing world. This led to the

a complete reorientation of the Energy Department’s work, including the creation of the Energy

Assessments Program and ESMAP, both of which I had the privilege to be involved with.

Yves’ management model for ensuring the success of the substantial expansion of the depart-

ment was to hire good people, put them on tasks which played to their strengths and then give

them the space and confidence to reach for ambitious goals. And yet, he was always on top of

the work and quick to provide support when one bit or the other of his department needed a

nudge in the right direction.

Over the years, we became regulars at the house as well as the office with Evelyn and Yves be-

ing sources of wisdom and advice as well as good times and good conversations. And this

friendship continued through the decades and finally into the period of his illness. Even as his

body was weakening, I was amazed at his ability to recall and analyze his early experiences at

the World Bank and to provide insights that are just as relevant for the leaders of the Bank to-

day.

Like so many others, my professional and personal life owes a lot to Yves and I count myself

very lucky to have had the opportunity to know him and to learn from him.

D.C. Rao

I learnt a lot from Yves Rovani, who was an astute manager as well as a warm, generous hu-

man being – and full of paradox. He read widely but gave his heart and soul to his work at the

Bank; he was a visionary in his thinking but highly skilled at the Bank’s budget games; he dele-

gated responsibility freely but was amazingly well-informed on what really went on; he was

deeply conservative but a risk-taker, as when he hired a macro-economist to lead the Depart-

ment’s work on energy policy; he professed no religion but his Spirit shone through as he faced

death calmly. A man I will always miss greatly.

Fernando J. Zúñiga y Rivero

It is too bad that I live so far away and also because of my age and my health, as

well as the age and health of my wife, it becomes very difficult to travel and stay

away from home. Nevertheless, I would like to say a few words honoring Mr. Yves

Rovani.

“When I came for interviews at the World Bank, it was way back on the week of

July 24th to the 28th of 1979, and Mr. Yves Rovani was one of the Senior Staff

Members that interviewed me. At that time he was the Division Chief of the new

Energy Department created by the President of the World Bank, Mr. Robert McNa-

mara, as an instrument to find new worldwide petroleum and natural gas reserves to

be able to reduce the price of these precious fuels. Mr. Rovani was a very learned

and a great predictor of a person’s abilities and personality. He liked me a lot from

the first day we met, and he managed to get me hired immediately. As a matter of

fact, when I was back in Lima, Peru over that weekend, and it was noon of the 31st

of July that I received a telegram with the good news, and that my first job was to

go to Buenos Aires, Argentina, near the end of August to start a big project with

YPF, the national petroleum company of Argentina. From there on my respect, and

I will call my admiration and love for Yves Rovani grew more and more.

During the next 17 years that I worked at the World Bank, I would visit with him

before starting any new project, and he would give me really excellent advise and

specific recommendations on how to conduct myself in the particular country

where I had to work, and on what kind and type of information would be best to-

gether from the beginning and how to deal with the people of that country.

Upon returning from an assignment I would also request an appointment to see him

and give him a brief but precise report of what I had been able to accomplish. He

again will give me his advice on how I was supposed to put together my report to

make it more interesting and not too long or too weak.

Another aspect of our friendship was the real friendship that he offered and the in-

vitations to his home were really very grateful and enjoyable, because of his lovely

wife and family, as well as the beauty if his home, where the food and the wine

were always marvelous.

To me he was the ideal type of a grand big chief the real “good boss”.

May God keep him on Heaven near our Lord Jesus Christ and Blessed Virgin

Mary, who is also the Mother of all of us good Christians.

Yves Albouy Dear friends I am my own Frenchman cannot make a good impression of Yves’s accent but will try and honour a french tradition. Be short! When I joined the Bank in 1982 he and De Anne Julius convinced me not to accept any other offers but his. The Center was better. And as the prospects faded for a Bank energy affiliate, he strongly supported my going on mission with the Regions, my bias to demonstrate rather than annotate. I knew I just could not just review the scores of drafts Country Assistance Papers, Energy Assessments and Project Apprais-als that were hitting my desk. Very soon he engaged me on a one on one conversation on wine, Australian wines. Are they really worth the money? Well on my second mission, I had my birthday din-ner with a half bottle. At the Bangkok Oriental Hotel, nice place, terribles prices. And I did not know there was a ceiling I needed to heed in my statement of expendi-tures. We talked wine, or rather he talked wine to me, a few times here at the Bistro but also much earlier and often while at OED. After each of his weekly meetings with his director and Division Chiefs, he wanted us to continue the conversation and share with him a good lunch and a new vintage at restaurants around the Bank. We would talk shop too, like the pressures by a couple of VPs and few EDs to edit OED re-ports. Some of the disputes were big, like on the need to devalue a currency. But, he never buckled up whenever he was sure of our case. From our private conversations while at OED, I know that he planned to retire in France, like me. But like me he had underestimated the gravity forces that keep us orbiting around DC and the Bank. The family, the friends and former colleagues, the evolving agenda of energy development. Well Yves, you are more Papa Bear than George Clooney but like George in his latest hit, you moved up to a higher orbit, a zero gravity spirit that keeps inspiring your cho-sen people here on Earth. Thank you Big Yves in the sky for believing we had the right stuff. We know for sure that YOU had it. Big.

Althea Duersten

I first met Yves when I interviewed for a job in the newly created Energy Depart-ment. This was the World Bank of the 1980s, still very much a traditional, structured, and dare I say tightly wrapped institution, with a proud history. I remember being both delighted by Yves--he radiated enthusiasm, creativity, and an enormous kindness which danced in his eyes. In an environment where many conversations started with why new things could not be done, Yves focused on why these things must be tried. He had a vision, and it was infectious. It made you want to be part of his world. When I worked for him in the Department, I came to also especially value his delight in long intellectual discussions, his warmth in providing counsel and advice, and his pa-tience with what it took to start something new in a traditional environment. I invited him to my wedding, which was being held on the not too convenient location of Nan-tucket Island. I treasure the pictures I have of him and his wife from that day--his joyful expression, his comfortable celebration of life, and the enormous compassion in his spirit.

Robin Bates

I knew Yves for more than 30 years, during the time that I worked for the World Bank

and afterwards, when I had retired. I got to know him soon after I joined the Bank in

1971, especially after the 1973 reorganization, when he was appropriately appointed as

Director of the Public Utilities Department. I quickly grew to regard him as a good

friend, colleague and manager. He was a man of vision and I looked to him frequently

for advice, particularly when I was myself a manager in the Energy Assessments Divi-

sion in the Energy Department in the 1980s. His advice and support were given with

honesty and the knowledge and insight that he brought to our work. There is no doubt

in my mind that of all the managers that I worked for in the Bank, Yves made the great-

est impact, not only on me but on the shaping and implementation of the Bank’s role

in the energy sector of developing countries. Even beyond this, he was great company

and ready with lively conversation and goodwill. Like many others, I miss him greatly.

Arturo Roa

Yves invited me to present a paper as member of a Rural Electrification panel at the World En-

ergy Conference held in Detroit, Michigan in 1974. I had met Yves earlier at the Bank through

Dick Sheehan, who was working on a loan for Empresa Nacional de Luz y Fuerza, the Nicara-

guan national power utility, and my employer at the time.

After the Conference, Yves and I drove over the Canadian border to Windsor, Ontario to have

dinner at a fancy French restaurant. During dinner and over some excellent wine, we dis-

cussed, among other things, my views on the benefits of building a regional power intercon-

nection for Central America. He was much in favor of such idea and encouraged me to pro-

mote it vigorously. When we were just about to get up to leave, Yves suggested I should join

the Bank. After the customary interviews, I was hired in February 1976.

At my first Board meeting, a few months later, Yves gave me thumbs up as I began my presen-

tation. At the end, when we were leaving the room, he came over to say: “Well done, Arturo,

you did a good job”. I was relieved feeling I had not let him down.

Later on during my career at the Bank I maintained a cordial, effective relationship with Yves

and the Central Projects Staff under him. Awhile ago, after I retired, I reported to Yves that the

Central American Interconnection, now known as SIEPAC, was finally under construction. He

seemed pleased to learn the ideas we had discussed earlier in Canada had become reality.

I shall always remember Yves as an outstanding development professional, a good person and

a caring friend.

David Gill

I met Yves shortly after being recruited into IFC in 1971. Throughout the period from then to

1988 when I retired I found Yves a true professional and a gentleman of the old school – with a

fine sense of humor.

He welcomed me to the Bank warmly. This was despite the fact that our disciplines were quite

different and that, to use a term I hadn’t heard before in my professional career, I had been

“parachuted into the Bank” (from Wall Street).

Yves went out of his way to seek me out and welcome me. Over several long conversations he

told me a lot about the Bank’s culture and way of doing things – which helped me to learn my

job and to avoid making many mistakes.

Bernard Decaux

Yves Rovani, was a good friend I made from the beginning of my arrival at the Bank in 1962 and in the following decades until the end of the 90's. We followed the same course to-gether; law, finance and economics. Yves was quickly interested in the field of energy, while I turned towards the industrial field, both fields allowed the financing of specific projects. In 1984 I had the great pleasure to join the Energy department, directed by Yves himself, in which our actions were diversified and thrilling. Yves sometimes made risky choices, which made us fear the worst, but he was always there to encourage us: "Don't be afraid, we will prevail. And he was always right." Yves was famous for his hosting qualities, and his spectacular warmth that entertained his friends and colleagues. We also all know him to be a great amateur of the finest wines, his reputation and advices were always well appreciated from everyone. In 1987 he was nominated General Director of Evaluation, and responded to the board of management of the Bank. It was a high responsibility position, which he greatly fulfilled. He asked me to join the passionate work that was the analysis of results and their qualities. I was a frequent visitor of his beautiful house on Foxhall Road, and a great admirer of his lovely garden and above all of his magnificent flowers which he cared for with the utmost delicacy. I had the great joy to be able to share for quite a few years the life of this admira-ble couple that were Evelyne and Yves.

Caroline Heider

Listening to all the nice words about Yves, I realized how lucky I was to have become ac-

quainted with him, even if just for a short while. His eagerness to help, his keen interest to dis-

cuss and solve problems -- some lasting from his days into mine -- and his ability to "never give

up" were inspiring till the very end. Our conversation, scheduled just for 2 hours, carried on

much longer, as we established an immediate rapport, and continued into an email exchange

about ideas we could pursue, if he got better. When listening to others giving tribute to Yves, it

became clear to me that this was his trade-mark: generously embracing people, making them

part of his family, and intensely engaging with them. His great humanity extended beyond those

whom he adopted into his family to the wider world of those for whose betterment he had

worked hard, and until the end he came up with new ideas to help ensure the World Bank's suc-

cess in helping the less fortunate. A great inspiration for many of us.

Eduardo Elejalde

I met Yves Rovani at the very start of my career in the World Bank (in 1972) since my first as-

signment in the Young Professionals Program was as a Financial Analyst in the Water Supply

& Sewerage Division of the Public Utilities Department (under Charlie Morse, another very

important mentor to me). At that time, Yves was the Senior Financial Advisor of the Public

Utilities Department. I joined Yves again in 1978 when I became a Senior Financial Analyst of

the Petroleum Division of the Energy Department, of which Yves was the Director. When the

Petroleum Division split into two (in 1980), I became one of its two Division Chiefs.

Since 1978 to 1982, when I left the World Bank for Wall Street, I worked very closely with

Yves and with other excellent professionals (Philippe Bourcier and Gene McCarthy, among

many others). It was the period of a world energy crisis and developing and executing a World

Bank petroleum projects lending program was a challenging task that required creativity and

good judgment, qualities that Yves had a lot off. Yves was our leader and also our friend. We

were quite effective. The lending program multiplied and many of the projects that we executed

were successful and of great impact. I loved Yves very much, both as a professional and par-

ticularly as a man, wise, generous and fun. He always kept a case of excellent French wine in

his office, which he shared with those of us that liked to stay late at work.

I saw Yves for the last time a few years ago when I came to Washington DC to visit him while

he still was in good shape (Gene, thank you for suggesting that I do that). We had a great time

reminiscing and drinking his excellent red wine. We talked about how great it was to be at the

World Bank during the time we worked together. He also talked about the very important infra-

structure related projects that he was involved in before my time at the Bank. He was a great

manager but also a great project man.

In sum, Yves had a great influence in my life, both professionally and personally. I now run my

own private equity fund management company, investing mainly in hydrocarbons projects

(exploration and production) and forestry projects (commercial plantations). In contrast with

most private equity fund management companies, which are staffed mainly by investment bank-

ers, my team comprises seasoned geologists, petroleum engineers and forestry engineers com-

plemented by young investment banker/financial analyst types. That is the way I learned how to

do it with Yves.

Frank Vogl

Yves Rovani brought to his work at the World Bank, as I experienced it, humor, modesty and

wisdom. I was to benefit hugely from this combination, plus one other characteristic – he was

enormously generous with his time and advice. As a newcomer to the Bank in 1982 in a senior

position responsible for information and public affairs I could so easily have stumbled into one

blunder after another, but it was my great luck to have encountered Yves and find that with

informality and in the genuine spirit of friendship he was always willing to provide me with ex-

cellent guidance. At that time, there were many political winds swirling around the Bank’s ap-

proaches to energy, but Yves managed them with remarkable grace and finesse and I certainly

benefited hugely from his counsel. I think that only people who have experienced the unique

politics and culture of the World Bank can fully appreciate how fortunate I was in my first years

at the Bank to enjoy his sincere goodwill. Later, when Yves became head of OECD, we had an

excellent relationship as he was determined to ensure that his department’s work received wide

public attention. It was always a delightful pleasure to work with him. He made unique and re-

markable contributions to the Bank, to the peoples across many countries who benefited from

the projects he directed, and to public understanding of the lessons learned from the Bank’s

project experience.

Hal Wackman

I would like to recall the vision and creativity that Yves demonstrated when he led the estab-

lishment of the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) during his time as

Director of the Energy Department. This technical assistance program was developed as a fol-

lowup to the Energy Assessment Program, with the support of the UNDP. It was designed by

Julian Bharier and Masood Ahmed, and I had a small role. ESMAP remains a lasting legacy

from our dear departed Yves. It continues to get substantial support from donors and deliver

timely energy analysis and advice to numerous governments to this day, more than 30 years af-

ter its creation. It is one of the oldest programs in the World Bank.

Humayun Mirza Coming from a generation that is not computer savvy, I do not own a laptop nor an iPad or a smart phone! However, I do own a desktop. So when I returned from an extended overseas trip this weekend, I saw your e-mail enclosing the invitation to the event for Yves, I am sorry that I was not here for it but I was one of two World Bank staff that attended the Church ser-vice for Yves. Thus I was able to personally convey my wife's and my condolences to Evelyne and John Stephen and family - Pierre Antoine was out of the country at the time.

Hans Wyss My contacts with Ives lasted over decades. I never worked for Ives directly nor ever was an energy specialist (though as an assistant director I supervised directly the en-ergy and transportation projects divisions in LAC in the 1970s). But there were some quite intense interactions with him. First, when he tried hard - and as you knew him, that meant really hard - to get me to join his department as an assistant direc-tor around 1978. He came to join me on a mission to Venezuela, I think for some kind of an energy conference. Of course that visit confirmed his renown for an utmost sen-sitivity (and length of time) when it came to selecting the best meals/wines. Unfortu-nately for him, I was a disappointment. I did not accept his offer (at the time I thought it would sidetrack me from the direct project/sector responsibilities I had in a Re-gional Projects Department). The second time, we had close professional interactions was when he was OED's Di-rector General (and an outstanding one at that). I was working with Moeen who al-ways asked me to "take care" of whatever Operations/Management was expected to do in response to recommendations contained in a variety of OED reports. I took a minimalist approach in these endeavors which of course did not always sit very well with Ives. But we generally kept good relations - perhaps helped a bit by my halfway acceptable French. I always hoped we could spend some days together in Paris. That did not work out because Ives retired before I took on the Bank's job in Paris. So, as the second best solution, we spent a few lunches at the Bistro Francais which was close to both of us as long as I lived in Georgetown.

Chip McPherson

I am very very sorry to have missed this. Yves was such a fine man. Many fond memo-

ries.

David Gill

I met Yves shortly after being recruited into IFC in 1971. Throughout the period from then to

1988 when I retired I found Yves a true professional and a gentleman of the old school – with a

fine sense of humor.

He welcomed me to the Bank warmly. This was despite the fact that our disciplines were quite

different and that, to use a term I hadn’t heard before in my professional career, I had been

“parachuted into the Bank” (from Wall Street).

Yves went out of his way to seek me out and welcome me. Over several long conversations he

told me a lot about the Bank’s culture and way of doing things – which helped me to learn my

job and to avoid making many mistakes.

Ian Johnson

My second YP assignment at the Bank was in Yves' Department. I was nervous more generally

and, of course, in front of senior figures such as Yves, scared stiff. To a young and new staff

member, the Bank could seem a hostile, competitive and uncaring place. I am a keen observer

of people and I immediately noticed the ease with which Yves greeted people and the warmth

and the genuineness he displayed to all: from the lowest in the Department to his management

team. Younger staff were treated with compassion and support and given space and opportunity

to grow. I have a particularly fond memory of the first Bank Christmas party I attended: it was

at Yves' club in Georgetown and a wonderful, fun-filled time was had by all. It helped build

teams and shape working attitudes within the Department. I’m afraid the standard was so high

that Christmas office parties have been downhill ever since. The style he promoted made a very

big difference to junior staff such as myself. But this kindness did not come at any expense to

substance and analysis: it was always clear that he demanded the best of people. He demanded

quality.

Over the years and as I progressed within the Bank and slowly became more at home with its

culture I would periodically pop in to see Yves and have an informal chat to seek his counsel. I

had never really worked extensively with him and yet I felt a bond. It occured to me that his one

enduring quality rested in his deep belief in people: get the best and provide a platform for them

to perfom. For Yves, people mattered more than institutional form. It is an enduring shame that

some of the Bank's leaders have never understood this simple maxim: people can change the

world for the better; change management and organizational reform rarely do.

I went on mission with Yves only once. His diplomatic skills at ensuring ideas and analysis

were explained to the senior officials we met left a deep impression. He always knew how the

heart and the head should meet: razor sharp analysis presented in a friendly and non-threatening

manner: the Bank at its unquestioning best. A place we could all take pride. It was observations

such as these that left a deep impression on me as I worked my way through the Bank.

Yves and Wilfried Thalwitz , both now sadly departed, were important mentors. They were cut

from the same cloth: the highest integrity coupled with the sharpest minds and yet able to be

open and friendly with all. These are the things that leave indelible marks on our careers. These

are the experiences that shape our work. It is why I have always felt so privileged and hum-

bled to have been given the opportunity to work at the Bank.

Achilles G. Adamantiades

I plan to attend this memorial gathering for Yves Rovani. I had a chance to meet him and get

well acquainted with him. I enjoyed his wisdom, knowledge, interest in development and good

humor.

David Jones

When I joined the Bank in 1970, Yves saw that I was an accountant and "took me

under his wing" so to speak, to assist him with some work that he was then doing

on this topic. Although we did not work together, very much, after that, I always

held him in great respect, at the top of our accounting and financial management

for project activity.

Moeen Qureshi

"Yves was that combination of Gallic charm and Western efficiency -- a goal that we all aspire to but never reach. He did."

Vineet Nayyar

There were very few, who could measure up to Yves' intellectual level. However, that alone

does not explain his charismatic personality and the loyal following he had at the World Bank.

He had an incredible capacity to spot talent and then give them the support and the freedom to

work and lead. He was a phenomenal manager because he could nurture and create leaders and

that in part explains why we all miss him so much.

Marc Babin The most vivid thing that characterizes Yves in my mind is his constant challenging approach for all new projects. Back in 1983 or 1984, I was working with Jake Schweighauser who used to work at Shell and we were trying to use some artificial intelligence system to estimate hydro-carbon bearing capacity of promising geological fields. Being his usual challenging and probing self, Yves asked me "tell me Marc, is it artificial intelligence or real stupidity?" Which taught me that you have to be ready to answer any query on any project as even if mildly humorous it was a very deeply probing question. And Yves knew how to be serious while having a good time. All great qualities and I learned a great lesson from this event, and I kept this with me through my career.

Miguel Schloss

I never had the privilege to work with Yves, but I suspect that I owe a lot to him for my admis-

sion to the Bank.

He was, literally, the first person I met in the organization, as he interviewed me for the Young

Professionals Program. It was a remarkable conversation, totally different from traditional inter-

views. In contrast to others, I asked him more questions than he posed to me, and he was kind

enough to show me for well over an hour different files to illustrate how the Bank helped pre-

pare, appraise and supervise projects.

While I never asked him about the discussion, I presume that the interview went exceedingly

well and that he must have judged me sufficiently favorably to have ended by being admitted to

the Bank.

Form my standpoint, it was a magnificent two-way and highly educational conversation, which

gave me a real "feel" for the different considerations that the Bank needed to make and the

thinking process to consider all relevant trade-offs.

I always felt that I needed to come back to him to reflect on this very special and fateful conver-

sation. But the years run by, and our paths lead us to very different places.

Mohammad Farhandi

I first met Yves Rovani in 1981 when he interviewed me for an energy specialist position in his

department. What I remember most about this interview was the ease he put me at the time of

the interview. He managed to get answer to every question he had without my sensing that he

was asking the question. At the end he told me his department needed an energy person but that

I should remember I will be competing with many "bright stars".

Yves's efforts to establish the Bank's first Energy Department, to guide it through its early chal-

lenging years, and to develop the framework for Bank's future robust programs in the energy

sector, are truly commendable by any measure.

Yves indeed was one of the Bank’s bright stars who left a legacy that continues to support the

Bank’s energy programs even today, over three decades later.

Thanks Yves for giving me the opportunity to work in such a great institution with so many

bright stars.

Olivier Lafourcade

First and foremost, Yves was a great professional. All along his superb career at the Bank,

Yves has consistently demonstrated the highest qualities as a professional and as a manager,

first in the operational field, especially as Director of the Energy Department, and then as

Director General of OED for 10 years. For quite a while, Yves was one of the most, if not

the most senior French manager at the Bank, and as such, he represented a role model for

many of his compatriots. He was never short of good advice to other more junior and less

experienced French staff and managers in the institution. I was one who benefitted enor-

mously from his advice, especially when I became a director in operations. More broadly

though, Yves was a real point of reference for many members of the staff of any nationality,

both admired and respected.

Second, Yves Rovani was a role model as an individual. He was a true gentleman, with ex-

traordinary cultural and intellectual background, high personal standards, and a man of mul-

tiple interests in life. Indeed, he enjoyed life enormously, and the best testimony of this was

his remarkable fight against illness. No complaints, just putting up a good fight. I consider

myself as highly privileged to have benefitted from his friendship.

Third, as an unquestionable model international civil servant, dedicated to the cause of de-

velopment, Yves was the epitome of what France has the best to offer. There was no doubt

about Yves Rovani’s “Frenchness”, witness his love of arts, culture, literature, intellectual

debate, and of course, gastronomy and above all, wine. We all miss his enthusiastic dis-

courses on Alsace, Burgundy, Bordeaux , and indeed wines from so many other regions and

countries. Many in the Bank are grateful for having been initiated by him to the pleasures of

“degustation”…

Last, as seen from Paris and the French Chapter of the 1818 Society, Yves was a constant

support and an active participant in many of our activities, including as part of the trips or-

ganized annually by the Association in France. Although he lived in Washington, he was a

true member of our Association. I, as president of the association, could always count on

him for good advice and support. We will miss his congeniality, his good sense of humor,

his curiosity for everything and everyone around him.

For so many years, Yves was a real point of reference for so many of us. We miss a great

human being.

Olivier Fremond

I met Yves when I was still a young man in graduate school. I was immediately mesmerized by this French man who spoke perfect English with a thick French accent, who cherished his na-tive country and loved the United States passionately. He became a role model for me at once, and he will remain so for the rest of my life. He had an extraordinary capacity to inspire me and get the best out of me. One of my fondest memory of Yves is an evening in Hoban Road when he read to us aloud, with an emotion that he found difficulty to control, the passage in De Gaulle's memoirs about the ancestral "terre de France", a land of farmers and churches, a land of traditions and revolutionary ideas. Yves loved France for its beauty and its traditions and he loved the United States because it was the beacon of freedom in the world and a land of opportunities for all. Yves was also an inveterate optimist with a sense of righteousness. When the going got tough, he had tremendous courage. I shall never forget the lessons of courage he gave us all after he was diagnosed with cancer. We often talked about the Bank which he loved. Until the very last days of his life he remained interested in its future. One of the many gifts he left me is his philosophy of management. He used to tell me that a good manager is someone who can lead a group of people who each know more than s/he in their field. I never forgot it. I always tried to apply it in own career. I loved him like a son and I miss him terribly.

“Such a man is a king’s true friend, who, without considering what is agreeable or not, speaks

and acts only according to virtue”. Mahabharata, The Dice Game.

P.T. Venugopal

Memories fade over time. But I remember the elation we, Members of the Oil & Natural Gas

Commission of India, felt in the mid seventies when thanks to the Energy Department led by

Yves Rovani, the Commission obtained the Bank’s then biggest foreign loan for the develop-

ment of offshore Bombay High. It was a time of severe foreign exchange crunch in India.

Many a developing country was so assisted by the Bank (IBRD/IDA) in successfully exploring

for and developing hydrocarbons under circumstances where international oil companies gave

low priority to such ventures. And the quiet figure that made all that happens was Yves Rovani.

Yves Rovani brought me into the Bank as an ‘Energy Consultant’ after I retired from service in

India. He was still the epitome of courtesy and gentleness that he was in my earlier phase.

Among significant people who have touched my life and acted as nodal points in its trajectory, I

count Yves Rovani as one.

With regards to the family and friends of Yves Rovani:

Philippe Bourcier Please convey my very sincere greetings to those who shared the Energy Department Adven-ture. Since most of them know a lot already, I thought I would tell them how the all thing started. At that time, 1974, if my memory is correct I was a senior gas economist with EMENA trans-port division. I was relatively new to the Bank, I joined in 1970, and had been quite busy with Joe Ristorcelli carrying out missions in Iran which and Yugoslavia which led to two projects and participating in sector missions in Argentina and Burma. I had just finished presenting to the Board a project for the reopening of the Suez canal. I had some” free” time in front of me so I started to read my mail which I had been neglecting for some time. I noticed an interesting memo dealing with oil and gas companies and the role that the Bank could play in assisting developing countries assessing their hydrocarbon potential in the new environment created by the huge oil price increase of 1972. I decided to send my comments to the author of the memo and by mistake sent it to Yves Rovani whom I had never met. Hav-ing been rather busy since I joined the Bank I had only a vague idea of the role of the Energy Department. A couple of weeks later I was called by Yves who was interested by the memo addressed to him by mistake. We met and he spent some considerable time explaining the role of the Bank in energy, he did that very well and after a few other meetings asked me if I wanted to join his Department. Since there was little work in the pipe line in EMENA and since I was very inter-ested in his proposal. I accepted. Very rapidly we got involved in situations where oil and gas resources had been discovered offshore in Thailand by private oil companies and in India by the national oil companies and these countries were looking guidance to develop these resources. At the same time we were solicited by the government of Yugoslavia to assist in the selection of the best national oil im-port terminal and land transport system. Due to the rapidly increasing work load Henry Schober was recruited as a pipeline engineer an Gene joined the informal group. Shortly later Yves informed me that he intended to create a new division and asked whether I would lead it. I accepted, The rest is history during which a lot of new ideas were tried out and new initiatives were taken, that needed changes in Bank policies, in procurement procedures and so forth. During these twelve good and bad years (they were some) Yves has always been ready to listen, dis-cuss and come up with solutions that have made it possible to achieve what we have achieved. I am grateful for his support, his sense of responsibility and his flexible approach to problem solving that made him the best anglosaxon French Boss that one may have. Thank you Yves for making these twelve years in your department the most interesting years of my professional life.

Rene Ribi

It is difficult for me to pay an appropriate tribute to Yves as our relationship has been so extended and so complex. It dates back to January 22, 1961. I remember this date so pre-cisely because it was two days after the inauguration of President Kennedy that I visited the Bank for the first time and met Yves. Together with Christian Finne, he formed the Bank team responsible for the Lima Light and Power Project in Peru. I was assigned by my employer to help supervise in the field the execution of this Bank project and had there-fore to take up and keep contact with rhe Bank. During the various supervision missions I had several opportunities to work with the Bank team and Yves in particular. At project completion in 1965, our relationship was well established and Yves was instrumental in my joining the Bank as a Power Engineer in 1969. When I left the Bank in 1976 our rela-tionship had developed well beyond the professional. Although during the next decade our contacts were much less frequent they remained close, as in the meantime our two families had become friends. In 1986 I rejoined the

Bank as a member of Mervyn Weiners OED team, and Yves was instrumental in this further step, too. When he became the Director General of OED I had again the privilege to benefit more directly from Yves’ profound knowledge of the economic and financial as-pects of the energy sector and the Bank’s in-volvement in it. This usually happened during long informal exchanges in Yves’ office or at our respective homes, the latter often with Evelyne Rovani’s fabulous food on our plates and a glass (or two) of one of Yves’ select wines close at hand. The conversation invariably covered much ground, Yves’ contribution usually reach-

ing from interesting “aperçus” to telling anecdotes and solid advice. After my retirement in 1990 and that of Yves a few years later, we kept up our ties. In-deed, in the first decade of the 21st century, my wife Daisy and I met the Rovanis’ at vari-ous opportunities, be it in Washington, on Sanibel Island, in Alsace or in Switzerland, oc-casions at which we undertook unforgettable excursions to visit especially the baroque monuments in Switzerland and Southern Germany, for which Yves had a special predilec-tion. Our last common trip took place in 2008 and led us to Yves’ beloved Alsace. In sub-sequent years we visited the Rovanis several times at their home and stayed in contact over the phone and by e-mail in particular during the months when Yves’ cancer proved untreatable and Yves faced with courage and serenity the unavoidable outcome.

James Bond

Yves Rovani was the reason I came to the World Bank in 1986. He forever changed my life and

that of my family, and I will be eternally grateful to him.

In 1986 Yves hired me into his World Bank energy department from the oil company Total,

where I was running refineries out of their Paris headquarters. I don’t know what potential he

saw in in me: he might have thought having another refiner would be useful for his department.

(Remember Krishnamurty and T.S. Nayer?) More likely, he was intrigued by an Anglo-South

African living in Paris called James Bond. A talking point for any World Bank director at their

weekly directors’ meetings.

As it turned out, Yves and I didn’t overlap much once I got to the Bank. A month after I arrived

in Washington DC in June 1986 he left the Energy Department and was

made director of the World Bank’s “Operations Evaluation Depart-

ment” (since rebaptized IEG). But he continued to take a fatherly inter-

est in me, and from time to time would take the trouble to find out how

I was doing, and whether I was happy at the Bank. And I could see

Yves’ personal touch and impact on the World Bank in other ways, too:

the department he hired me into was full of really outstanding technical

experts, and really nice people, too. It is there that I made many of the

friends I still have today. A director has to be good to hire good techni-

cal people. A director has to be outstanding to hire good technical peo-

ple who have good personalities, too. Yves was an outstanding director

and an outstanding human being.

We all know Yves was a wonderful man on the personal front. On the professional front, too,

some of what is best in the World Bank even today (two decades after his retirement), remains

part of his legacy. He truly believed in the best and the brightest; he believed in supporting and

developing his staff so they could realize their full potential; and, in an era very different from

today, before it became fashionable, he was color-blind, gender-blind, and interested only in

what one could deliver. He hired good people, and they went on to hire good people. We were

proud to work for the Bank, and proud to work for Yves.

We will all miss Yves. But I believe that it is through us, his friends and his disciples, that his

memory lives on.

Saul (Shaul) Arlosoroff In 1978 John Kalbermatten, Division Chief for Water and sanitation, reporting to Yves Rovani was undertaking the research program on "low costs water and sanitation op-tions"- I was asked to come to the Bank for an interview for a ST consultancy , and met Yves Rovani for the first time.

It was a unique experience for me to meet a Bank director whose attitude and under-standing the needs of the low income communities did not match the reputation we have had about the Bank senior staff . Our meeting , that was scheduled to be half an hour ,lasted more than an hour and a half ,covering questions on the problems of global coverage for the low income groups and what practically and feasible can be done to achieve these impossible objectives.

I was fascinated by his warmth and genuine care for the world poor looking for real-istic solutions and whether the bank is the right institution to deal with these mat-ters.Yves was an Energy expert who understood well the inner problematic of Water and Sanitation.

Yves opened the door for me to join the bank as a consultant, and before that term was over, Yves asked me to become a regular staff member-and supported with all his energy the newly formed Joint WS Program with the assistance of UNDP and Do-nors. I was then nominated to be the Program manager to undertake Yves and JMK visions.

A program that managed to generate Millions of Dollars and received warm support from more than 50 participating Governments,these days it is called WSP ,and suc-cessfully operating after 35 years.

Yves Rovani was a manager with vision and far reaching understanding of the needed strategy for the Bank , the poor communities and the sector.

Rachel Weaving

I worked with Yves a bit in the Energy Dept and he later recruited me to his office when he was

DGO. He taught me a great deal about both work and life and was a wonderful boss.

Ricardo Halperin

Unfortunately I will be out of town at that time but want to commend this initiative. Many of us

were privileged to learn from Yves and remember him fondly.

Trevor Beyer

As we gradually age, we begin to reminisce about the major milestones in our lives that re-sulted in our changing paths, invariably due to the influence of a few ‘authentic’ leaders. But what are the characteristics of an ‘authentic’ leader? They lead from their conviction; they are originals, not copies; their actions are based on their values; their beacon relies on their life stories; and, they galvanize change when they adapt their message to their followers’ key val-ues. Yves Rovani was one such leader. My first meeting with Yves was in 1978, an interview, which lasted over an hour & a half. What particularly interested me was the extent to which he focused on my experiences growing up in the Caribbean and being intrigued by the career shifts that I had made already in the 12 years since leaving Cambridge. There was a genuine charm and warmth that Yves exuded during that interview which was compounded by his inter-est in my focus on the ‘overall’ energy policy of a country. What was particularly special was that he suggested that we go and have lunch together at one of his favourite restaurants, which we did while savouring an exquisite bottle of red wine. By the end of that lunch, I knew that this was someone with whom I would enjoy working. I entered the WB in January 1979 in Yves’ Department and within one month I was sent on mission to Thailand, with a 6 person team of sector specialists. After one month in Thailand I knew that I had found my niche. Two weeks after returning to Washington and presenting our report, I sensed that Yves’ mind was ticking about something. A couple weeks later, he re-vealed his proposal - the WB needed to begin looking at the energy sector from a holistic per-spective: to achieve this, mobilizing grant funding was essential. Within 12 months, the first meeting of donors was held and the Energy Sector Management Assistance Programme (ESMAP) was born. This instrument was to be one of Yves’ great achievements in his career-and it continues to thrive, now 32 years after its establishment.. By the late 1980s a major reorganization of the WB was underway. At this juncture, Yves be-came the Director General of OED. There was no hesitation in my mind to join Yves, espe-cially as it afforded an opportunity to view the WB from another perspective. Another most memorable period of Yves’s skillful leadership was when the team of Rene Ribi, Luis Landeau, Fernando Lecaros and myself presented our findings of a review of the WB’s lending to the Colombian power sector over a period of about 25 years. The review was controversial in the Bank but welcomed by the Colombian authorities, and supported by Yves, who kept reminding us that in OED the values of integrity and being diplomatic but candid in our judgments and findings needed to be the hallmarks of what we produced. The reward to all of us was that the report laid the basis for the beginning of the reform of the Colombian power sector. The last time I had the pleasure to reconnect with Evelyne, Yves & Pierre-Antoine was when I visited Washington twice between late 2006 & first quarter 2007 while working on a review of the Energy Sector in Latin America & the Caribbean. I spent a wonderful evening with them which culminated in one of those special dinners in which exquisite wines, selected by Pierre-Antoine, lubricated our memories as we reminisced. I extend my deepest sympathies to Evelyne, Pierre-Antoine & Jean-Stephen at the passing of Yves – truly one of the four ‘authentic’ leaders who have had a major influence in shaping the person that I became, and still am, today.

Ian Hume

Yves Rovani was a highly cultured gentleman in the best European tradition. He had a Euclid-

ean mind and a Herculean heart. And his ties were only Hermes.

I was fortunate to work for Yves in the mid 1980’s, as one of two Deputy Directors of EGY,

following in the able footsteps of DC Rao. I was responsible for Energy Policy and Strategy

(which included ESMAP), alongside Philip Bourcier who was responsible for Petroleum and

Gas. This was a turbulent time in world energy, since the so-called oil crisis had reversed it-

self, with sharp downward corrections in the price of crude, leading to much soul searching

about how the Bank should respond. The turbulence had its reflections within the Energy De-

partment itself, where there were doubts about our continued role, the commitment of donors

to ESMAP, and there were tensions for other reasons, including the insistence of a newly ap-

pointed SVP for Energy and Industry to try and micromanage EGY on a daily basis. All of

this by way of saying I had seen Yves working under severe pressure for protracted periods.

My lasting memory of how he conducted himself is with me still today: never lost his cool,

though he might be seething; never failed to see —and use—the humor in every situation; al-

ways took the long, more philosophical view; always trusted his people in what they were do-

ing, and left them alone to do it.

What a privilege it was to have worked with him.

Yet there was one lasting regret I had: knowing my Rhodesian roots Yves many times would

recount to me the delights he had had working on projects in that country, specifically the re-

structuring of the Rhodesian Railways and the building of the Kariba Hydropower project.

My regret is that during these exchanges with Yves I never took the opportunity to explain to

him that Kariba (built during immediate post-school years) was the reason that the World

Bank was first brought to my consciousness as a young man. How could I then have known,

not only that I would end up working there, but, more than that, working with the man who

had helped bring the Bank to my attention in the first place. So, Yves was both partly respon-

sible for my coming to the Bank at all and fully responsible for so enriching one part the ca-

reer I enjoyed there. I think Yves would have got a giggle out of knowing that.

Ambroise Fayolle « Etant au Japon puis en Chine, je n'ai pu m'y joindre comme je ne pourrai venir le 5 décembre, mais je penserai bien à vous et j'ai souhaité vous adresser un petit mot, en commençant par l'extrait d'un livre que je viens de finir. "Different societies have different philosophical explanations for life and the hereafter. I wouldn't call myself an atheist. I neither deny nor accept that there is a God. The Universe, they say, came out of the Big Bang. But human beings on this earth have developed over the last 20,000 years into thinking be-ings, and are able to see beyond themselves and think about themselves. Is that the result of a Darwin-ian evolution? Or is it God? I do not know. So I do not laugh at people who believe in God. But I do not necessarily believe in God-nor deny that there could be one. With every passing day, I am physically less energetic and less active. You take life as it comes, with your physical capabilities declining over the years. But you cannot predict what your physical condition will be. However rigorous and disciplined I am, it will still be a downhill slide. In the end, my greatest satisfaction in life comes from the fact that I have spent years gathering sup-port, mustering the will to make this place meritocratic, corruption-free and equal for all races, and that it will endure beyond me. It was not like that when I took office. Singapore, as it stands, is the one corruption-free spot in a region where corruption is endemic. The institutions have been created to keep it that way, people are promoted on the basis of merit. Not of race, language or religion. If we uphold these institutions, we will continue to make progress. That is my greatest hope." Vous l'avez compris, ces phrases qui me font tant penser à Yves sont extraites de l'extraordinaire livre de mémoires de Lee Kuan Yew, ancien PM de Singapour qui a aujourd'hui 90 ans. Je trouve qu'on y retrouve deux choses que je garderai d'Yves pour le reste de ma vie : l'ambition pour ce qui vous porte (dans le cas d'Yves, c'était clairement la Banque mondiale et aider les pays pauvres a se développer) et l'intégrité personnelle, sans compromission. J'ajoute deux immenses qualités, qui font qu'il me manque tant : l'optimisme, qu'il a pris des Etats-Unis, et l'attention aux autres. Combien de fois m'a-t-il rendu d'immenses services, parfois sans même le savoir. J'étais très heureux, la veille du triste jour où il a été opéré du poumon et me présenta aux infirmières dans les termes suivants: "he is like a son to me, even if I am not his father". Parce que cela correspon-dait aux sentiments que j'avais pour lui. Ce que mes parents avaient d'ailleurs parfaitement compris et ce dont ils se réjouissaient. De la même façon que l'affection que j'ai pour vous, Evelyne et toi, Pierre-Antoine, ressemble aux liens qui sont tisses dans les familles. Yves est parti avec beaucoup de grâce, sans se plaindre de ses souffrances. Il disait qu'il avait eu une belle vie et c'était vrai. Il avait aussi eu une belle famille. Mais c'est vrai qu'au quotidien, c'est un man-que terrible que de ne plus entendre sa voix, ses opinions ou ses rires. Je pense bien à vous ces derniers mois, car la perte d'Yves doit être si difficile au quotidien. En ce qui me concerne et contrairement a Lee Kuan Yew, j'espère que je le retrouverai plus tard, mais je re-specte ceux qui n'y croient pas. Cela n'enlève que peu à la douleur, de toute façon.

Akin Oduolowu

"Yves was a good friend and adviser to me on several levels, and I am very grateful and appre-

ciative of this friendship and our association together. As the overall boss, being the Director of

the Energy Sector (EGY) when I joined the Bank as an Energy Planner in 1981, he was a men-

tor, teacher and adviser, who tried to instill his vision of the Bank's Energy Sector on the staff;

and on several occasions, came to my office to give words of encouragement and support. He

generally called me Chief, not because I was one, but based on his humorous interpretation of

my first name Akin, which he says meant A KING without the "G"!!

When I became ill some years ago with a skin disorder, Yves took it upon himself to help ar-

range for a second medical opinion for me at Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, the result

of which was instrumental in the design and type of the treatment for my problem.

I miss his friendship and good sense of humor; and may his soul rest in peace.

Tom Fitzgerald

I joined the World Bank in the Fall of 1979 during the formative stages of fleshing out the then

new Energy Department of the World Bank (oil and gas related loans) with Yves Rovani as its

recently established initial Department Head.

People were joining this group at a fairly rapid pace—all with different backgrounds, so team

work didn’t come all that easy. However, Yves carried the fleshing out process smoothly and

to all of our satisfaction. His choice of Philippe Bourcier as his Assistant Department Head

turned out to be a great help to him.

Yves proved to be a first rate organizer and compromiser with results that proved to be reason-

able to all of us.

Yves defended his staff from challenges by Bank officials outside the Energy Department and

helped us in our presentations to the Board of Directors of the World Bank.

In conclusion Yves was an Organizer and Problem Solver par Excellence.

Michael Gillette.

I worked for Roger Chaufournier during the 1970's and knew of Yves through Roger as they

vacationed in Florida together. I departed the Bank in 1979 to work on US energy policy in the

Carter administration. My colleagues there and I were invited to depart by the Reagan transi-

tion team, leaving us high and dry. A few months of futile effort to start a new energy company

in a recession market prompted me to try and return to the Bank in 1982. Nobody in Personnel

remembered any of the verbal assurances I was given when I departed--the door was

closed. Roger suggested I speak with Yves who graciously received me. I told him I did not

have a job. "You have one here with me", he replied and promptly instructed Personnel to hire

me into EGY as a consultant with pay the same as when I had left. I reported to Yves the next

day and loved every minute working with him.

Two great French bosses framed my World Bank experience. How fortunate I was!

John Davis

I met Yves Rovani for the first time in the spring of 1966, when he interviewed me in the Paris

office. Yves wanted me to join the Bank immediately. Unfortunately, because of my contract with my

then employers I only joined the Bank on January 3 1968. I give credit to Yves, for keeping the position

open to me for 21 months.

In 1976, after serving more than 8 years in the Bank’s trenches Yves offered me a position with

his EWT Advisory Staff. I was very happy to accept and I stayed with him until retirement in 1984.

Yves was a remarkable person, he was exceptionally kind, considerate and fair-minded. He was

a family man. Those wonderful qualities influenced his management of the Department. He always

looked for the good in a person and was never quick to criticize.

I recall one case where one of his Division Chiefs (now deceased) was constantly complaining

to him about an Analyst in his division, Yves told him that he would not see the man until the Division

Chief produced the “the Smoking Gun”. One morning, sometime later, the Division Chief burst into my

office and asked me to go with him to see Yves. I was surprised, and asked what was the problem. He

replied, I have “the Smoking Gun”. Only then was the staff member reprimanded.

Yves always paid particular attention to his younger staff members. If he thought one of his

youngsters could be developed he asked that it be done. He gave me the task of developing a young

Chinese staff member. It was a success. The man became a “star”, when he left the Bank to return to

his native Taiwan.

Yves was a strong supporter of the Young Professionals Programs, he was always on the look

out for suitable YPs for his Department. As we know some of his YPs “Starlets” became “stars”.

Yves defended his staff. I recall that on one occasion I was unjustly insulted by a senior staff

member of another department. After Yves intervened I received an apology.

Yves made careers but he also saved and salvaged careers. He understood life and human weak-

nesses, but he was always considerate, understanding and compassionate.

Dick Sheehan once commented to me, “you know, Yves manages this Department but he also

runs “a home for Lost Dogs”. One particularly unsavoury incident comes to mind. In 1973 I , and a top

class YP, were asked to pre-appraise a large Telecom project. We did an indepth analysis which in-

cluded an examination of the prices being paid for equipment. The director of the National entity con-

cerned was not pleased with what I reported and without reason, proceeded to lambast me; after he had

run out of abuse on me, he then turned his anger on the Bank and its Policies. Our analysis had touched

a very sensitive nerve – equipment costs. The incident was taken seriously in the Bank and dealt with

personally by the President. (the story continues)

Years later, after I had retired I happen, by chance, to see the man’s name in the Bank’s tele-

phone directory. I could not believe what I was reading. I phoned Yves because he knew of the events

in 1973 and he told me what had happened. Apparently following a change in regime in the country

concerned the man had to flee the country to save his life (he was one of the old guard). After some ter-

rible experiences, he finally arrived in Washington D.C. Desperate, he asked the Bank for help. He was

found a “niche”. Yves final words were “he needed help, we had to help him”. The man (now de-

ceased) was truly “a Lost Dog”.

In 1978, I also became a Lost Dog but in another sense. My wife died suddenly whilst we were

on holiday. My two children and I were devastated. My children had to leave, and being alone I went

into a depression. Once again Yves came to my rescue. He invited me to his home on countless occa-

sions. Yves and Evelyne showed me such kindness I will never forget. They brought me back to nor-

mality. On another occasion when I was in Washington DC I went down with deep vein thrombosis,

Yves and Evelyne collected me from the hotel and took me to Sibley Hospital. They stayed with me

into the early hours until I had been seen by a doctor. After my release from hospital they took me to the

Bay area where I had a period of convalescence. Their kindness was without limits.

Yves touched many lives throughout the World and May 25 2013 was a very sad day for all.

Those of us who were lucky to have worked with him will never forget this remarkable man.

Joe Lopez

"His charming ways and the unique smiling face are a pleasure to recall,

He cared for all who worked with him, irrespective of their color or creed.

I think of him in silence, fond memories I often recall,

One precious to our hearts has gone; the unique voice we loved to hear is no

longer there;

Yet, You're not forgotten dear Yves,

As long as life and memory last I shall always remember thee in my prayers;

We miss you Yves and will always do;

May your departed soul rest in peace.

God Bless.”

Addendum to the Yves Rovani Tribute: Photos of some happy times.