kafka was elected executive director sixteen times, through many major shifts in the balance of political power in brazil and the other countries in his constituency. for more than three decades, he was a mentor to executive directors and staff, a voice of reason on the board, and a master at brevity of expression in his interventions. above all, he had a special relationship with the staff, of which he had once been a member. those who knew him primarily through his economic writing always looked up to him as a senior professional colleague and not just as a member of the executive board. those who had the privilege of working with him on missions to his countries were impressed with his thoroughness and effectiveness in preparing for and participating in discussions with the authorities, regardless of whether the mission was to brazil or to any other country in the region.