17 January 2012: Ertharin Cousin (US) has been appointed Executive Director of the UN (WFP), following confirmation by the office of the UN Secretary-General. She is to take office in April 2012.

Cousin succeeds to Josette Sheeran as Executive Director of the WFP. Cousin was formerly the US representative to the UN Agencies for Food and Agriculture in Rome, Italy. Sheeran will become the new Vice Chair of the World Economic Forum. [WFP Press Release]