Dr. Hyginus ‘Gene’ Leon is the sixth President of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), the regional development finance institution based in Barbados. With over 30 years of experience in economic development, Dr. Leon directed macroeconomic and financial policy support to government authorities in Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and the Caribbean. A former Associate Professor, Dr. Leon worked with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for more than 24 years, serving as Mission Chief in parts of Africa, The Bahamas, and several Gulf States. In addition, he was the Senior Resident Representative in Jamaica and Nigeria. Dr. Leon served as Director of Research at the Central Bank of Barbados and Country Economist at CDB.

He holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom (UK) and a Bachelor of Science Degree (B.Sc.) in Economics from the University of London.