United Nations Foundation Board Welcomes António Guterres as Next UN Secretary-General

The United Nations Foundation Board of Directors welcomed António Guterres as the ninth UN Secretary-General. Today, the UN General Assembly, on the recommendation of the UN Security Council, appointed António Guterres to succeed current UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon starting on January 1, 2017.

“The United Nations Foundation Board of Directors warmly welcomes António Guterres as the next United Nations Secretary-General and looks forward to working to support his leadership and the UN’s mission to secure the rights and dignity of all people.

“The challenges of the 21^st century are complicated and immense, but so are the opportunities to harness the power of global cooperation to expand peace and progress. In today’s world, the UN’s role as a forum for global dialogue and action is more important than ever. With the rights and well-being of ‘we the peoples’ as his compass, the next Secretary-General must lead with a courageous voice and innovative thinking to ensure the UN rises to the challenges of our time.

“António Guterres has extensive and valued experience working in international diplomacy, humanitarian response, and the UN system. As a strong, effective advocate for global engagement and a passionate voice for the voiceless, he can be a powerful ally in the pursuit of a more peaceful and prosperous world. We are committed to supporting him in advancing the work of the UN and promoting peace and security, sustainable development, and human rights for all.”

The members of the UN Foundation Board are: Founder and Chairman Ted Turner (United States); Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah (Jordan); Valerie Amos (United Kingdom); Kofi Annan (Ghana); Fábio Barbosa (Brazil); Gro Harlem Brundtland (Norway); Kathy Calvin (United States); Julio Frenk (Mexico); Igor Ivanov (Russia); N.R. Narayana Murthy (India); Hisashi Owada (Japan); Hans Vestberg (Sweden); Timothy E. Wirth (United States); Yuan Ming (China); and Muhammad Yunus (Bangladesh).

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About the United Nations Foundation

The United Nations Foundation builds public-private partnerships to address the world’s most pressing problems, and broadens support for the United Nations through advocacy and public outreach. Through innovative campaigns and initiatives, the Foundation connects people, ideas, and resources to help the UN solve global problems. The Foundation was created in 1998 as a U.S. public charity by entrepreneur and philanthropist Ted Turner and now is supported by philanthropic, corporate, government, and individual donors. Learn more at: www.unfoundation.org