Robert Zoellick’s message as president of the World Bank is that “the bank is back”, according to one of his top managers.

Ana Palacio, senior vice-president and general counsel, said on Thursday that the bank had “gone through difficult times but ... the first message [from] president Zoellick is that we are back, we look into the future and this needs co-operation between the management and the board. If there is no such co-operation the bank will never meet its goals.”