James (Jim) H. Jennings was born on November 4, 1928 in the state of Tennessee, USA. After serving in the US Navy from 1946 to 1948, Jennings graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1952 with a BA in Economics. Prior to his employment at the World Bank Group he worked as a stockbroker for Merrill Lynch.

Jennings joined the World Bank in 1963 as a financial analyst in the Industry Division of the Technical Operations Department (TOD). He maintained the position of financial analyst in various project and sector departments through June 1976:

? Projects Department, Water Supply Division (PRJWS,1965 - 1966)

? Projects Department, Public Utilities Division (PRJPU, 1967 - 1968)

? Public Utilities Projects Department - Water Supply Division (PBP, 1969); and

? Public Utilities Projects Department - Office of the Director (PBPDR, (1969 - 1975).

From 1976 to October 1980, Jennings served as assistant director in the Personnel Management Division (PMD).

In October 1980, Jennings moved to a regionaloperations unit for the first time when he joined the Latin America and Caribbean Projects Department (LCP) as the assistant director. LCP was responsible for the regional vice presidency's sector departments. In this role, Jennings oversaw the work of the region's transportation and energy sector staff and supported LCP Director S. M. L. van der Meer.

In July 1987, Jennings was named director of the Loan and Trust Funds Department (LOA) in the Office of the Vice President and Controller (VPCTR). He served in this position through January 1991 at which point he retired from the World Bank Group.

Jennings died on October 10, 2015 in Bethesda, Maryland.