Secretary-General Appoints Philippe Lazzarini of Switzerland as Deputy Special Coordinator for Lebanon

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today announced the appointment of Philippe Lazzarini of Switzerland as his Deputy Special Coordinator for Lebanon, where he will serve as Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator and United Nations Development Programme Resident Representative in the Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon (UNSCOL).

Mr. Lazzarini will succeed Ross Mountain of New Zealand.  The Secretary-General is grateful to Mr. Mountain for his leadership and distinguished service in coordinating United Nations humanitarian and development efforts in Lebanon, particularly in response to the impact of the Syrian crisis.

Mr. Lazzarini has extensive experience in humanitarian assistance and international coordination in conflict and post-conflict areas, including through his latest assignment in the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia as Deputy Special Representative, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator.  Prior to this, he held a number of senior positions in the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, and in various field positions in Iraq, Angola, Somalia and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

Prior to joining the United Nations in 2003, Mr. Lazzarini was heading the marketing department of a private bank in Geneva.  He also served for 10 years with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) as the Deputy Head of Communication, Head of the ICRC delegation in Rwanda, Angola and Sarajevo and as an ICRC delegate in Southern Sudan, Jordan, Gaza and Beirut.

Mr. Lazzarini graduated with a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Neuchâtel and holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Lausanne.

Born in 1964, he is married with three children.

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*     This supersedes Press Release SG/A/1449-AFR/2785-BIO/4555 of 30 December 2013.