James D. Wolfensohn is Chairman of Wolfensohn & Company, LLC, a private investment firm and an advisor to corporations and governments.  Sir James became Chairman of Citi International Advisory Board on April 18, 2006.  He is also advisor to Citi's senior management on global strategy and on international matters. 
Sir James was the ninth president of the World Bank Group (1995-2005).  On May 31, 2005, at the end of his second term, he left office and assumed the post of Special Envoy for Gaza Disengagement for the Quartet on the Middle East, a position he served until April 30, 2006.  In this role, he helped coordinate Israel's planned withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and spearheaded reconstruction efforts as Palestinians assumed sovereignty over the area. 
Sir James was the third president in the World Bank's history to be reappointed for a second five-year term by the Board of Executive Directors.  As President of the World Bank, he travelled to more than 120 countries in order to pursue the challenges facing the World Bank in regard to poverty and environmental issues.  He led successfully initiatives on debt reduction, banking and finance, environmental sustainability, anti corruption programs, and AIDS prevention and treatment.  He developed activities on religion and culture and decentralised offices overseas linked by the most modern telecommunications system in the international community. 
Prior to joining the Bank, Sir James was an international investment banker.  His last position was as President and Chief Executive Officer of James D. Wolfensohn, Inc., his own investment and corporate advisory firm set up in 1981 to work with major U.S. and international corporations.  He relinquished his interests in the firm upon joining the World Bank.
Before setting up his own company, Sir James was held a series of senior positions in finance.  He was Executive Partner of Salomon Brothers in New York and head of its investment banking department.  He was Executive Deputy Chairman and Managing Director of Schroders Ltd. in London, President of J. Henry Schroders Banking Corporation in New York, and Managing Director of Darling & Co. of Australia.
Throughout his career Sir James has also closely involved himself in a wide range of cultural and voluntary activities, especially in the performing arts.
He has served as Chairman of the Board of the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton University for the last 18 years.
In 1970, he became involved in New York's Carnegie Hall, first as a board member and later, from 1980 to 1991, as Chairman of the Board, during which time he led its successful effort to restore the landmark New York building.  He is now Chairman Emeritus of Carnegie Hall.