WASHINGTON (Reuters) - New World Bank President Robert Zoellick on Thursday appointed Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as one of his three deputies, putting her in charge of Africa, South and Central Asia, regions that include some of the bank's poorest borrowers.

Announcing her appointment as a managing director as of December, Zoellick said Okonjo-Iweala, a former Nigerian finance minister, will join the team of Juan Jose Daboub and Graeme Wheeler, who were appointed by former World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz.

Okonjo-Iweala will also oversee human resources at the World Bank, Zoellick said in a statement.

"Ngozi brings a unique set of skills and experience to the World Bank group," he said, adding: "She is an internationally respected world leader."

Okonjo-Iweala previously worked at the World Bank for 21 years before joining the former Nigerian government then led by President Olusegun Obasanjo as finance minister.

She recently worked with Zoellick in a joint World Bank and United Nations initiative that makes it easier for governments in developing nations to recover assets stolen and stashed in rich countries by corrupt leaders.

Her name topped lists of possible non-American candidates to head the World Bank after Wolfowitz was forced to resign in June amid an ethics scandal.

She has been praised for her fight against corruption and for spearheading free-market reforms in Nigeria, one of the most corrupt countries in the world, by major donor countries and anti-poverty activist and U2 lead singer Bono.