Roger Burston is the Human Resource Advisor to the President and Assistant Secretary for the Global Bank. He is a senior human resource professional with extensive experience in the financial private sector and major international organizations in the UK, Asia and the USA.
He was born in the United Kingdom, studied accountancy, and obtained Membership of the Association of Accounting Technicians (MAAT) and initially worked as a budget officer, then as the Chief Accountant for one of British Airways' tour operation brands. He then moved to Libra Bank PLC, a private-sector consortium bank headquartered in the City of London where he changed careers from accountancy to human resources. It was a particular requirement of Libra to hire a human resources manager with financial background, and he successfully held the role of Senior Manager, Personnel for five years.
In 1990, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), a private-sector focused financial international organization set up to assist in the privatization and restructuring of public sectors within Eastern and Central Europe, was established. It was the first major international organization to be set up for many years. Mr.Burston joined at the inception stage and helped to introduce many innovative human resource, compensation and benefit policies that recognized its role as a unique international organization with a private sector emphasis.
He was at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development from 1991 to 2001, and then moved to the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Manila, Philippines, as the Director, Compensation and Benefits, to gain working experience in a developing country. During his tenure in this role, he reformed a number of human resources policies and introduced a performance bonus scheme for the first time in the Bank's history. After five years he was asked to take on the role of Assistant (Corporate) Secretary where he effectively acted as the human resources business partner for Board members; provided liaison between the President, Senior Management and the Boards of Governors and Directors; assisted in the recruitment of Vice Presidents; and was responsible for the organization of the Asian Development Bank Annual Meetings of the Board of Governors.
In 2009 he moved to the International Monetary Fund in Washington DC to head up the compensation and benefits division, where among other responsibilities, he reformed the pay and benefits structure for staff based in the International Monetary Fund field offices worldwide; and played a key role in reforming the International Monetary Fund retirement plans. He then held the role of Human Resources Advisor where he held a key role in restructuring the Human Resources Department leading up to a major reorganization. He then led various organizational design projects including a major restructuring of the Office of the Secretary; reviewing the employment framework for the Offices of the Executive Directors; advising the Investments Office on the redesign of their human resources framework, and restructuring of the joint office between the World Bank and International Monetary Fund responsible for meetings arrangements for the Boards of Governors for both organizations.
Mr. Burston joined the Global Bank in August 2014.
