Ban appoints new Under-Secretary General for Communications and Public Information

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced today the appointment of Cristina Gallach of Spain as Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, the UN Spokesperson’s office announced today.

Ms. Gallach, according to a statement issued by the Office of Mr. Ban’s spokesperson, brings to the role a “wealth of experience” in communication, information, public diplomacy, international affairs and security policy, combined with transformational leadership and hands-on management expertise. She is also an experienced newspaper, radio and television journalist.

As she takes up her new role, she succeeds Peter Launsky-Tieffenthal of Austria.

The Secretary-General said he was grateful for Mr. Launsky-Tieffenthal’s commitment and dedicated service to the Organization. Mr. Ban said he was also grateful to Maher Nasser for his professional and effective work as acting head of the Department of Public Information in recent months.

Ms. Gallach, who holds a Master’s Degree in International Affairs from Columbia University, New York, and a degree in Communication and Journalism from the Universidad Autonoma, Barcelona, is currently Head of the Public Relations Unit in the Council of the European Union, Directorate General for Information and Communication – a post she has held since July 2010.