Pulock Chatterji, secretary in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's office, has been appointed as the new executive director of World Bank for a term of three years beginning February 1, 2009.

Chatterji, an IAS officer from the Uttar Pradesh cadre, will take over from Dhanendra Kumar, an official spokesperson said.

Kumar, a 1968 batch IAS officer from the Haryana cadre, was to retire on October 31. However, he has been granted an extension till January 31, next year.