Stephen succeeds Valerie Amos, also of the United Kingdom, and the Secretary-General expressed his utmost gratitude to Amos for her outstanding services to the United Nations and the humanitarian community, having tirelessly advocated for the world’s people in greatest need.

In a statement, the Secretary-General’s spokesperson said that Stephen brings extensive experience in multilateral diplomacy and advocacy to the post, together with international leadership and management.

Much of that, it noted, came in the coordination of collective action within the humanitarian community, notably in the fight against malaria and neglected tropical diseases, as well as in his significant contribution to the United Kingdom’s efforts to achieve the United Nations-endorsed target of contributing 0.7 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) to official development assistance (ODA).

As a strong humanitarian advocate with more than 20 years of experience in international development and health care, Stephen is expected to bring innovative and strategic ideas to the role.