James T. Morris of US named to head UN World Food Programme

The United Nations announced today the appointment of James T. Morris of the United States, a corporate executive and former head of a major charitable organization, as Executive Director of the UN World Food Programme (WFP).

Mr. Morris was appointed jointly by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and the Director-General of the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), Jacques Diouf, following consultations with 36 member countries of WFP’s Executive Board.

Mr. Morris succeeds Catherine Bertini, whose second five-year term will end in March. She was the first US national to head the Rome-based agency.

Currently the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of IWC Resources Corporation, the parent company of the Indianapolis Water Company, Mr. Morris also serves as president of the Indiana University Board of Trustees.

Previously, he was President of one of largest charitable foundations in the United States – the Lilly Endowment, which was established in 1937 by members of the Lilly family to pursue philanthropic interests.

Set-up in 1963, WFP is the UN’s frontline agency in the fight against global hunger. In 2000, the agency delivered 3.7 million tonnes of food aid to 83 million people in 83 countries, including most of the world’s refugees and internally displaced people.