Biographical Note

Secretary-General Appoints Jean-Jacques Graisse of Belgium Acting Head,

 

Department of General Assembly and Conference Management

 

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced today the appointment of Jean-Jacques Graisse of Belgium as Acting Head, Department of General Assembly and Conference Management.  Mr. Graisse will replace Muhammad Shaaban.  The Secretary-General is grateful for Mr. Shaaban’s dedicated service and strong commitment to the ideals of the Organization.

With more than 40 years’ service as an international civil servant in the United Nations system, Mr. Graisse brings to this position a wealth of experience which includes managing complex operations, building productive partnerships with stakeholders and producing results.

Mr. Graisse’s most recent position was as Senior Deputy Executive Director responsible for the World Food Programme’s (WFP) multibillion-dollar emergency, development and logistics operations around the world.  Before joining WFP, Mr. Graisse worked at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) where he served as Assistant Administrator and Director, Bureau for Resources and External Affairs.  Prior to this, his assignments have included United Nations Resident Coordinator, UNDP Kenya (1989-1991), and Director, Office of Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan, the Coordinator for the United Nations Humanitarian and Economic Assistance Programmes relating to Afghanistan (1988-1989).  Mr. Graisse had also extensive experience with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in Nairobi and the International Trade Centre UNCTAD/GATT in Geneva.

Prior to joining the United Nations system, Mr. Graisse was assistant professor in Politique du Commerce International in Antwerp, Belgium.

Mr. Graisse was born in Brussels, Belgium, in 1940.  He graduated from the Institut Supérieur de Commerce de l’Etat à Anvers in trade with developing countries (with honours).

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