Michael Sarris studied Economics at the London School of Economics and received his Doctorate in the United States. From 1972 to 1975 he worked at the Central Bank of Cyprus and the Bank of Cyprus. In 1975, Michael joined the World Bank. In the course of his career, his work covered a broad range of sectors in Africa, Latin America and East Asia. His duties included the design of overall country strategies, advice on policy issues for economic and social development, the elaboration of programmes for structural reforms and the development of economic policy dialogue, between the Bank and the national authorities of countries seeking World Bank assistance. At the end of 2004, he retired from the World Bank as a Department Director. In September 2005, the President of the Republic of Cyprus, appointed him as Minister of Finance, where he served until the change in government in March 2008. During his tenure, Cyprus prepared for and successfully introduced the Euro as its national currency.