Biographical Note

Secretary-General Appoints Kevin Kennedy (United States)

Deputy Special Representative for Haiti

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has announced the appointment of Kevin Kennedy of the United States as his Deputy Special Representative for the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH).

He succeeds Luiz Carlos da Costa of Brazil, who tragically perished in the 12 January earthquake.  The Secretary-General remains indebted to Mr. da Costa, who was a pillar of United Nations peacekeeping and a mentor to generations of United Nations officials.  Mr. da Costa brought many of the finest and most talented staff to the United Nations.  His extraordinary professionalism and dedication were matched only by his charisma and warmth, and his devotion to his many friends.

Mr. Kennedy brings to the position extensive experience in organizing the international community’s responses to humanitarian emergencies worldwide at the strategic, political, policy and field levels.

Having joined the United Nations in 1993, his most recent post was Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle-East Peace Process.  He has also served as Director of the Coordination and Response Division in the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, and held senior humanitarian positions in Sudan, Iraq, the Balkans, Timor-Leste and Somalia.

A national of the United States and Ireland, Mr. Kennedy was born in 1947.  He is married and has four children.

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For information media • not an official record