Corporate Leadership

Bharat Bhargava, Chairman & CEO Mr. Bhargava, an MBA from the Harvard Business School, has held senior management roles for over thirty years, including thirteen years at one of the largest US national banks, three years as a senior US official, four years at a Fortune 500 company, and over twenty years in directing highly-successful banking, capital markets, private sector development and public finance projects in nearly 80 countries worldwide. Renowned as a thought leader in the field of economic development, Mr. Bhargava has personally advised a number of US and foreign central and state governments, regulators, financial institutions, self-regulatory organizations and enterprises.

Harsh Bhargava, President A Harvard MBA specializing in finance, Mr. Bhargava has over 25 years of experience in international business, enterprise development, and export promotion, covering over 70 countries. Mr. Bhargava has been involved in managing technical assistance and training projects in the areas of banking, capital market, non-bank financial institutions, export development and financing, and lending to SMEs in the former Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Mr. Bhargava has implemented training of over 20,000 youth, men, and women toward starting their own businesses. He has also taught courses in starting, expanding and managing businesses at the Iacocca Institute, Lehigh University and the Wharton School.

Terry Stroud, Managing Director, Financial Sector Mr. Stroud, an MBA in finance, has over 25 years of experience as a banker and a regulator with lead advisory roles at bank regulatory institutions in the US and in emerging markets. Over the course of last seven years, Mr. Stroud, has been a Chief of Party on Bankworld projects in emerging economies where he has guided senior officials, regulators, legislators, courts and other policy makers in the drafting, adoption and implementation of policies, laws and regulations. He has institutionalized bank supervision, enforcement and problem bank resolution capabilities at the central banks, and restructured financial institutions. He has also been credited with preventing a potentially major banking crisis in one of the countries.

Alex Barr, Vice President Mr. Barr, an MBA in Corporate Finance, has over fifteen years of managerial experience. He manages all finance and contracts matters related with all projects. Mr. Barr's efforts have resulted in exemplary cost control in implementation of projects, and in excellent results during agency audits. He has helped the organization earn an excellent reputation among clients and the consultant community alike for its highly effective and reliable systems and procedures. Mr. Barr has integrated the Bankworld home office and field offices on finance and reporting for better project management.

Donald Hart, Principal Banking Advisor Mr. Hart, has more than 25 years of legal and financial sector experience, and has served as General Counsel to numerous domestic and multinational organizations. As the Chief of Party for Bankworld's USAID project in Armenia, Mr. Hart provided stewardship to a major capital markets project advising the country's senior officials, regulators and other policy makers in the adoption and implementation of policies, laws and regulations. He has helped strengthen the nation's securities commission and the stock exchange. Altogether, he has served as Chief of Party on eight projects in Asia and the former Soviet Union. Mr. Hart was also the General Counsel to a Belgium company engaged in investment and development activities in Africa, South America, and the Middle and Far East.

Matthew Hanna, Principal Banking Advisor Mr. Hanna, an MBA in Finance, has over 14 years of banking experience in emerging market economies and is presently managing Bankworld's latest long-term multi-bank project in Azerbaijan. Mr. Hanna has an excellent track record of successfully managing and implementing SME downscaling and upgrading projects in commercial banks in Central Asia, Eastern and Central Europe, FSU, Russia and Africa. In all his long-term assignments, he has been the lead expert and has worked with local and short-term expatriate experts to leverage his work with the participating banks. His work has included all aspects of the design and implementation of best practice MSME lending programs including the review and development of policy/procedures, improving organizational structures, streamlining credit processes and introducing performance based incentive schemes. Mr. Hanna is fluent in Russian.

Chris Flahive, Project Manager Mr. Flahive holds a degree in Sociology from Boise State University. He has many years of experience in project coordination, marketing and business development. Mr. Flahive manages Bankworld's overall business development efforts. He has been spearheading the Indefinite Quantity Contracts and projects proposals and procurement processes, as well as design and development of marketing and other collateral material, and client and partner relationships. Mr. Flahive is fluent in Russian.

Sinead Gangler, Project Associate Ms. Gangler holds both an MA degree and a Business & French degree from Trinity College, Dublin. She has worldwide experience in project management, marketing, and business development. Ms. Gangler supports Bankworld's coordination of proposals, Indefinite Quantity Contracts, procurement processes, and client and partner relationships, as well as assisting Bankworld consultants in the field. Ms. Gangler is fluent in French.