The World Bank's most powerful shareholders should avoid backroom political deals in appointing a replacement for James Wolfensohn as president. Instead they should take an open and transparent approach, a top bank official says.

Peter Woicke, outgoing head of the International Finance Corporation, the Bank's private lending arm, said any backroom deal between the US and Europe to replace James Wolfensohn, who steps down in May, would damage the credibility of his successor.