The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development announces the appointment of Matteo Colangeli as Managing Director for SME Finance and Development.

Effective June 1, 2026. Colangeli’s extensive background in regional banking will help advance support for SMEs across the Bank’s operational regions. He will be based at the bank’s headquarters in London.

Colangeli brings over two decades of experience with the EBRD, having started his career at the bank in 2005. He has worked in various regional sector banking teams across the EBRD’s operational countries, including Kyiv, Sofia, Tirana, and Belgrade. Most recently, he served as the Director and Regional Head of the Western Balkans, where he significantly increased the Bank’s operations in the region, achieving annual investment volumes of €1.6 billion along with fostering partnerships across governments, businesses, and donors.

His track record highlights his commitment to sustainable business growth, advancing policy engagement, and building successful regional teams. Colangeli’s efforts in the Western Balkans have enhanced the integration of banking and advisory services, expanding access to finance for SMEs through innovative risk-sharing instruments and initiatives like the Enterprise Expansion Fund.

In his new role, Colangeli aims to leverage his extensive experience to bolster the Bank’s efforts in supporting small and medium-sized enterprises across its regions.

Colangeli’s promotion comes together with the announcement of two new regional managing directors: Andreea Moraru for Central Europe and the Baltic States, and Grzegorz Zielinski for South Eastern Europe.

_{^{Image Credits: EBRD (may be used for editorial purposes)}}