Secretary-General Appoints Mohamed Ali Alhakim of Iraq Executive Secretary of Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Mohamed Ali Alhakim of Iraq as the next Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA).

Mr. Alhakim brings to the position deep knowledge of the governmental landscape in the region, coupled with strong networks across it.  He was previously Permanent Representative and Ambassador of Iraq to the United Nations in Geneva (2010-2013); Ambassador and Director of Arab, European, International Organizations and Policy Planning in Iraq’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Baghdad, (2006-2010); Minister for Communications (2004-2005); Member of the Iraq National Assembly and its Foreign Relations Sub-Committee (2005-2006); and Senior Social and Economic Adviser to the Vice-President of Iraq (2004-2010).

Born in July 1952, Mr. Alhakim holds a doctoral degree in engineering and telecommunications management, a master’s in computer information technology and a Bachelor of Arts in education and statistics.