Biographical Note

SECRETARY-GENERAL APPOINTS CATHERINE POLLARD OF GUYANA ASSISTANT SECRETARY-GENERAL

FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND CONFERENCE MANAGEMENT

 

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced today the appointment of Catherine Pollard of Guyana as Assistant Secretary-General for General Assembly and Conference Management.

Ms. Pollard succeeds Franz Baumann of Germany, to whom the Secretary-General and the Under-Secretary-General for General Assembly and Conference Management are grateful for his dedicated service to the Department since 2009 and the United Nations since 1980.

As Assistant Secretary-General for Human Resources Management since 2008, Ms. Pollard has represented the Secretary-General on human resource management issues, providing advice on wide-ranging strategies and policies.  She has led human resources reform initiatives and the introduction of new policies during her tenure including as Co-Chair of the Chief Executive Board/Human Resources Network for the United Nations common system.

Prior to joining the Office of Human Resources Management, Ms. Pollard was Chief of Staff in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, and before that, the Director of the Peacekeeping Finance Division in the Office of Programme Planning, Budget and Accounts.

Ms. Pollard’s career in the United Nations began in 1989 when she worked with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as the Chief of National Execution Projects.  In 1993, Ms. Pollard joined the Department for Peacekeeping Operations, then worked as Chief Budget Officer for the United Nations Operations in Yugoslavia and Central Headquarters.  Thereafter, she served as Chief of the Budget and Finance Section of the United Nations Volunteers.

Ms. Pollard brings a proven track record of valuable experience in financial, human resource and general administrative management.  During her 25 years with the United Nations, she acquired a solid foundation of the United Nations culture, organizational and operational structures, global initiatives and reform efforts in accordance with the Secretary-General’s priorities and strategies.  In each of her assignments at senior levels, she has helped to effect real improvements in management practices, moving away from the status quo.

Born in 1960, Ms. Pollard holds a master’s degree in accounting from the University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica.

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*     This supersedes Press Release SG/A/1130 of 3 April 2008.

For information media • not an official record