Thiaw will succeed Amina Mohamed of Kenya, to whom the secretary-general is grateful for her outstanding contribution and exceptional service to UNEP.
Thiaw brings to the position more than 30 years of experience in the fields of environment and sustainable development, coupled with his knowledge of UNEP and multilateral processes. His professional career spans the full spectrum of practical work at national and regional levels to leading global programmes and experience of United Nations inter-agency and intergovernmental processes.
He joined UNEP in 2007 as director of the Division of Environmental Policy Implementation (DEPI). Prior to joining UNEP, Thiaw worked for 15 years for the World Conservation Union (IUCN) where he served in different positions, including acting director-general and regional director for West Africa.
Thiaw started his career in his home country, Mauritania, where he served for 10 years in the Ministry of Rural Development.
