Secretary-General appoints new Deputy Executive Director for UNICEF

NEW YORK, - Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today announced the appointment of Martin Mogwanja as one of UNICEF’s three Deputy Executive Directors. Mr. Mogwanja will replace Omar Abdi, who will take up the position of UNICEF’s Comptroller.

Prior to taking up his new position Mr. Mogwanja, who is a Kenyan national, is UNICEF’s representative in Pakistan. In 2009, he was appointed United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for that country.

Responding to the announcement, UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake said, “I am very pleased with the Secretary General’s decision to appoint Martin Mogwanja to the post of Deputy Executive Director for UNICEF.”

Since joining UNICEF in 1977, Mr. Mogwanja had served as the organization’s Representative in Uganda and in the Democratic Republic of Congo and as its Deputy Regional Director for West and Central Africa.

He has extensive experience in the planning, coordination and implementation of a broad range of UNICEF programmes to improve the status of children and women.

“Martin has done a remarkable job in Pakistan as UNICEF Representative and recently as acting Humanitarian Coordinator,” said Mr. Lake, “and I have full confidence in his abilities and leadership.”

In his announcement, the Secretary-General made special mention of the outstanding contribution to UNICEF that Mr. Abdi has made during his term as Deputy Executive Director and praised his commitment to the ideals of the United Nations.