SECRETARY-GENERAL APPOINTS ALICE HECHT AS CHIEF OF PROTOCOL

Biographical Note

SECRETARY-GENERAL APPOINTS ALICE HECHT AS CHIEF OF PROTOCOL

The Secretary-General today announced the appointment of Alice Hecht as Chief of Protocol, effective 14 January 2006.

Since July 2003, Ms. Hecht has headed the Division of Administration of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), with particular responsibility for ensuring the efficiency and effectiveness of UNMIK's work, providing policy advice, and assisting the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in fulfilling his mandate.

Her United Nations experience began in March 1974, in the Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, where she handled projects related to demographic and socio-economic trends in Africa.  Subsequently, she served the Organization in several capacities at Headquarters and in the field, including as Chief Administrative Officer of the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (2000-2003), and the United Nations Special Commission (1992-2000).  From 1985 to 1992, she held the position of Deputy Executive Officer in the Department of Technical Cooperation.  In the early 1980s, in her capacity as Economic Affairs Officer, she was responsible for the design and management of socio-economic projects in South-East Asia.

Ms. Hecht was born and educated in Belgium.  She holds a Licence en Sciences Sociales, Université Libre de Bruxelles.

Ms. Hecht is married with one son.

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