Ban appoints senior officials to key development posts

United Nations’ development efforts got a boost today with the appointment of key positions in the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and at the UN Development Programme (UNDP).

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today announced that Grete Faremo will replace Jan Mattsson at the helm of UNOPS, a UN body which works to expand the capacity of the UN system and its partners.

Ms. Faremo, whose career spans several years as a senior minister in the Norwegian Government and in the private sector, was named following consultations with the UNOPS Executive Board.

Also today, Mr. Ban said that Maria Eugenia Casar will replace Rebeca Grynspan as Under-Secretary-General and UNDP Associate Administrator.

Having held a series of senior positions in the Mexican Government, including as National Treasurer, Ms. Casar is currently the Assistant Secretary-General for Programme Planning, Budget and Accounts, Controller and Mr. Ban’s Representative for the investments of the assets of the UN Joint Staff Pension Fund.

Ms. Grynspan, meanwhile, has taken up a new assignment as Secretary General of Secretaría General Iberoamericana.

Also at UNDP, Ms. Casar will be joined by Jessica Faieta, the new Assistant Secretary-General and Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean.

She replaces succeeds Heraldo Muñoz, who has returned to Chile to take up the post of Minister of Foreign Affairs in the administration of President Michelle Bachelet, who also served as the first Executive Director of UN Women.

Ms. Faieta is a UNDP insider, having worked in the organization for many years, most recently as Deputy Regional Director for the bureau she now heads.