Professor Sánchez-Ancochea specialises in the political economy of Latin America with a particular focus on Central America. His research interests centre on the determinants of income inequality and the role of social policy in reducing it.

He has taken over this term from Professor Christopher Adam, who occupied the role from 2016 to 2019.

‘It is an honour to take over as Head. ODID is an excellent department with amazing staff and first class students,’ Professor Sánchez-Ancochea said. ‘I look forward to supporting the exciting work that all my colleagues do and will work to increase our impact and influence in development debates at the national and global level. I also look forward to continuing the inspiring work of my predecessors Nandini Gooptu and Chris Adam - whom I thank for his tireless work the last three years.’

Professor Sánchez-Ancochea is co-editor of the Journal of Latin American Studies and member of the editorial boards of Oxford Development Studies and Journal of Development Studies. He was also Director of the Latin American Centre (University of Oxford) between 2015 and 2018.

He was a Visiting Fellow at the Kellogg Institute in the University of Notre Dame during 2018/19 where he worked on a book on the costs of inequality.