Biographical Note

SECRETARY-GENERAL APPOINTS YOHANNES MENGESHA OF ETHIOPIA AS ASSISTANT

SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND CONFERENCE MANAGEMENT

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan announced today the appointment of Yohannes Mengesha of Ethiopia as Assistant Secretary-General for General Assembly and Conference Management, in succession to Angela Kane.

Mr. Mengesha currently serves as Director of the Office of the Deputy Secretary-General.  He previously served as Principal Officer in the same Office (1998-2005).  Earlier in his career, Mr. Mengesha held the position of Director, Iraq Programme, Department of Humanitarian Affairs (1996-1998).

Mr. Mengesha joined the United Nations in 1976 as Project Officer, World Food Programme (WFP) Eastern Caribbean Office, Trinidad and Tobago (1976-1980).  Since then, he has served the Organization in various capacities, including as Regional Manager, WFP Eastern and Southern Africa Bureau (1994-1996); and Senior Adviser, Department of Humanitarian Affairs (1992-1994).  He also held various posts in WFP’s East and Southern Africa Bureau (1980-1992). 

Mr. Mengesha holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and a Master of Arts in Law from Cambridge University, United Kingdom.  He was born on 27 July 1951.

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