Ban names veteran British journalist as new spokesperson

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appointed Martin Nesirky, a veteran journalist from the United Kingdom, as his new spokesperson.

Mr. Nesirky is currently with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna, where he has served for more than three years as Spokesperson and Head of Press and Public Information.

He also served for more than two decades as an international correspondent and editor for Reuters. He covered a number of issues affecting international peace and security, including the fall of the Berlin Wall, events in the Balkans and nuclear non-proliferation issues.

His tenure with Reuters included a stint as the Moscow Bureau Chief with responsibility for coverage of the Commonwealth of Independent States, and as a senior editor in London handling global political news stories, including the Middle East and Africa. He has been posted in Berlin, The Hague, and Seoul.

Mr. Nesirky succeeds Michele Montas of Haiti who is retiring from the Organization on 30 November.

“The Secretary-General is grateful to Ms. Montas for her dedication and service as his Spokesperson since the beginning of his term on 1 January 2007,” read a note issued by Mr. Ban’s office.