Secretary-General Appoints Sigrid Kaag of Netherlands as Special Coordinator for Lebanon
United Nations Secretary‑General Ban Ki‑moon today announced the appointment of Sigrid Kaag of the Netherlands as Special Coordinator for Lebanon. She will succeed Derek Plumbly of the United Kingdom.
The Secretary‑General is grateful for Mr. Plumbly’s service to the United Nations. Since January 2012, he has led the work of the United Nations in Lebanon with outstanding diplomatic experience and skill during a critical time for the country and the region.
Ms. Kaag is a Special Adviser to the Secretary‑General and previously served as the Special Coordinator of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons-United Nations Joint Mission to eliminate the chemical weapons programme of the Syrian Arab Republic, from October 2013 to September 2014. She brings with her a wealth of experience in political, humanitarian and development affairs alongside her diplomatic service, including in the Middle East.
She previously served as Assistant Secretary‑General with the United Nations Development Programme from 2010 to 2013 and as Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Jordan from 2007 to 2010. Prior to that, Ms. Kaag held several senior positions with UNICEF, the International Organization for Migration, and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. Before joining the United Nations system in 1994, she served her country in its Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ms. Kaag also worked for Shell International Petroleum Company in London.
Ms. Kaag holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Middle East studies from the American University in Cairo, a Master of Philosophy in international relations from St. Antony’s College, Oxford University and a master’s degree in Middle East studies from Exeter University.
Born in 1961, she is married with four children.
__________
* This supersedes Press Release SG/A/1440-BIO/4544-DC/3460 of 16 October 2013.