German Named Top Manager for United Nations
May 13, 2008
Kane's new position which will require her to work closely with the team overseeing the renovation of the UN world headquarters that's scheduled for completion in 2013.
Kane will become the second German in the UN's senior management team after Achim Steiner, who serves as executive director of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). She will take over on July 1 from Alicia Barcena of Mexico, who will become executive secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC). The appointments were made by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
Kane has been serving since 2005 as an assistant secretary general for political affairs. An assistant secretary general ranks third in the hierarchy of the UN organization with undersecretary general ranking second to the UN secretary general.
She joined the United Nations in the early 1990s following work with the World Bank in Washington.
The UN has launched a program to fully renovate its 40-story headquarters for the first time since 1950. Located along the East River in Manhattan, it houses the 4.500-strong secretariat that serves the needs of the 192 countries that are members of the world body.