United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, following consultations with the Advisory Commission of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), announced today the appointment of Pierre Krähenbühl of Switzerland as the Agency’s new Commissioner-General. He will replace Filippo Grandi.

The Secretary-General expressed his gratitude for the outgoing Commissioner-General’s leadership in the implementation of UNRWA’s mandate and outstanding dedication and commitment to the Palestinian people.

Mr. Krähenbühl brings to the position a wealth of experience and dedicated passion in humanitarian, development and human-rights action, coupled with strategic leadership experience in politically sensitive and high-risk environments.

Since 2002, he has held the position of Director of Operations at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), overseeing 12,000 staff in 80 countries. Prior to this, Mr. Krähenbühl served as personal advisor to the President of the ICRC (2000-2002) and carried out various field assignments in El Salvador, Peru, Afghanistan and Bosnia-Herzegovina (1991-1998). He served as Head of Operations for Central and South-Eastern Europe in Geneva (1998-2000). Prior to joining the ICRC in 1991, he worked   as a Communication and Reporting Officer for the Lutheran World Federation in Venezuela, Haiti and Ethiopia.

Born in 1966, Pierre Krähenbühl earned his degree at the Institute in 1991.