Five senior UN officials sworn in today by Secretary-General

Five high-ranking United Nations officials took their oaths of office today at a swearing-in ceremony in New York before heading to Turin for a two-day retreat for senior managers at the end of the week.

Secretary General Ban Ki-moon swore in the new Under-Secretary-Generals for Legal Affairs, Patricia O’Brien, and for Peacekeeping Operations, Alain Le Roy, at the ceremony, held at UN Headquarters in New York.

Ms. O’Brien, who served as Legal Adviser to the Department of Foreign Affairs in Ireland since 2003, becomes the first woman in the world body’s history to hold the post of UN Legal Counsel.

As the new head of peacekeeping, Mr. Le Roy is tasked with overseeing almost 110,000 personnel serving in 20 peace operations around the world. The Frenchman has extensive experience in international affairs, both at the political level and in the field, including senior positions with the European Union (EU), the French Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the UN.

Three Assistant Secretary-Generals were also sworn in today: Warren Sach, for the Department of Management’s Central Support Services; Jun Yamazaki, as Controller and for the Office of Programme Planning, Budget and Accounts; and Jane Holl Lute, for Peacebuilding Support.