U.N. Secretary-General names new UNICEF head, board expected to approve selection

Mar 18 2010

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon on Tuesday selected President Barack Obama's nominee to head UNICEF - Anthony Lake, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. UNICEF's board must approve Ban's selection and is expected to do so, the newspaper writes (3/17).

Beginning in May, Lake will assume the UNICEF Executive Director position "after incumbent Ann Veneman, a former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, retires from the post in April," Press Trust International writes (3/17).

"The head of UNICEF has always been an American, largely because the United States is the largest contributor to the agency, which is active in 190 countries," the Associated Press writes in a piece that reflects on Lake's career in foreign policy. In addition to serving on the board of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF for nine years, Lake served as national security adviser to former President Bill Clinton (Lederer, 3/16).

"Mr. Lake's abilities and extensive experience … well-equip him to lead the global agenda for children," Veneman said in a UNICEF press release. "We will work closely with him to ensure a smooth and successful transition" (3/16).

Ban thanked Veneman "for her immense dedication, energy and determination to improve the lives of children around the world. She leaves behind an organization well-equipped for the enormous challenges ahead," PTI reports (3/16).