Secretary-General Appoints Martha Helena Lopez of Colombia Assistant Secretary-General for Human Resources Management

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres today announced the appointment of Martha Helena Lopez of Colombia as Assistant Secretary-General for Human Resources Management.  She will succeed Carole Wainaina of Kenya to whom the Secretary-General is grateful for her commitment and dedicated service to the Organization.

Ms. Lopez brings with her a wealth of senior-level international experience in human resources management.  Since 2015, she has served as Director of Human Resources at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).  Previous to that, she was Director of the Strategic Planning and Staffing Division, Office of Human Resources Management, Department of Management at the United Nations.  She also held the positions of Chief of the Human Resources Policy Service (2006-2009) and Chief of the Staff Development Service (2004-2007) at the United Nations.

Ms. Lopez previously served with UNDP as Chief of the Policy Unit, Office of Human Resources, Bureau of Management (2001-2004) and with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Division of Human Resources, as Human Resources Officer, Policy (1997-2001), and Human Resources Officer (1994-1997).

Ms. Lopez began her career as a national staff member in her native Colombia where she worked with both UNICEF (1989-1994) and the World Food Programme (WFP) (1984-1989).

Ms. Lopez holds a Law Degree with specialization courses in socioeconomics from Xaveriana University in Bogota, Colombia.