IIF Hires Clay Lowery, Executive Vice President; Elizabeth Roberts, General Counsel; and Elina Ribakova, Deputy Chief Economist

June 28, 2019

Washington D.C., June 28, 2019 – Today, the Institute of International Finance (IIF) announced the addition of three senior staff members: Clay Lowery as Executive Vice President of Research and Policy, Elizabeth (Liz) Roberts as General Counsel, and Elina Ribakova as Deputy Chief Economist.


“I am thrilled to be adding a group of such deeply knowledgeable and well-respected professionals to our senior management team,” said Tim Adams, IIF President and CEO. “I’m confident that Clay, Liz, and Elina will make an immediate impact at the IIF and allow us to serve our members even better than before.”


Clay Lowery was previously a Managing Director at Rock Creek Global Advisors, an international economic policy advisory firm, where he focused on international banking regulation, sovereign debt, macroeconomic policies, exchange rates, and investment policy -- including national security reviews. Prior to that Mr. Lowery held multiple positions at the U.S. Treasury Department, culminating in serving as the Assistant Secretary for International Affairs. In this role, Mr. Lowery managed a 200-person team and was responsible for economic and financial diplomacy, monetary and banking issues, currency strategy, and trade and investment practices.


Mr. Lowery received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia (Phi Beta Kappa) and his MSc at the London School of Economics. 


“I’ve known and worked with Clay for twenty-five years, and in that time he has proven himself to be a thoughtful, well-respected and effective leader with a strong global perspective and deep knowledge of international finance and economic policy. His arrival this summer will greatly benefit our members,” added Adams.


Liz Roberts was previously a partner in Goodwin’s Private Equity and Private Investment Funds practices and co-leader of the firm’s Impact and Responsible Investing practice. Prior to Goodwin, Ms. Roberts was a partner at Hogan Lovells in Washington, D.C., where she was a member of the investment funds practice.


Ms. Roberts received her Bachelor’s degree from Trinity College and her J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center (magna cum laude, Order of the Coif).


Elina Ribakova joined the IIF this spring from Bruegel, where she was a visiting fellow. She previously served as the Head of EEMEA Research, Managing Director at Deutsche Bank in London. Ms. Ribakova has held many other senior level positions in the financial industry, including Senior Economist at Amundi (Pioneer) Asset Management; Chief Economist at Avantium Investment Management; Chief Economist Russia/CIS and Global Cross-country Themes at Citigroup; and several positions over a nine year stint at the IMF.


Ms. Ribakova received her Bachelor’s degree from Stockholm School of Economics, and Master’s in Economics from University of Warwick in the United Kingdom.


###


The Institute of International Finance is the global association of the financial industry, with close to 450 members from more than 70 countries. Its mission is to support the financial industry in the prudent management of risks; to develop sound industry practices; and to advocate for regulatory, financial and economic policies that are in the broad interests of its members and foster global financial stability and sustainable economic growth. IIF members include commercial and investment banks, asset managers, insurance companies, sovereign wealth funds, hedge funds, central banks and development banks.