Josette Sheeran
| Josette Sheeran | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Executive Director of the World Food Programme | |
|
In office April 4, 2007 – April 5, 2012 |
|
| Secretary General | Ban Ki-moon |
| Preceded by | James Morris |
| Succeeded by | Ertharin Cousin |
| Under Secretary of State for Economic, Business, and Agricultural Affairs | |
|
In office August 23, 2005 – April 4, 2007 |
|
| President | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Alan Larson |
| Succeeded by | Reuben Jeffery III |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
June 12, 1954 Orange, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Whitney Shiner (Divorced) |
| Education | University of Colorado, Boulder (BA) |
Josette Sheeran (born 1954) has been President and CEO of the Asia Society since May 2013. Previously Sheeran was Vice Chairman of the World Economic Forum. Sheeran assumed that position on the conclusion of her term at the World Food Programme. She was the eleventh Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), appointed by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Food and Agriculture Organization Director-General Jacques Diouf in November 2006. Prior to this post, she served as the United States Under Secretary for Economic, Business, and Agricultural Affairs in the State Department.
On May 21, 2013, Sheeran was named President and CEO of Asia Society, a global non-profit dedicated to strengthening relations between and among the United States and countries of Asia.
As Executive Director of WFP, Sheeran was responsible for managing the world’s largest humanitarian organization with nearly 11,000 staff worldwide. WFP provides emergency food aid to the world’s hungry as well as addresses the causes of chronic hunger. The UN estimates that there are more than 850,000,000 hungry and malnourished people, disproportionately represented by women and children who are often victims of war and natural disasters; those who do not have access to safe drinking water or sanitation; orphans and families affected by HIV/AIDS; and schoolchildren in poor communities.
"I think we can, in our lifetime, win the battle against hunger because we now have the science, technology, know-how and the logistics to be able to meet hunger where it comes," Sheeran said.
U.S. Ambassador John Bolton, who was told of the decision and jumped the gun on the official announcement, said the United States was very pleased and called Sheeran "extraordinarily well-qualified."
Sheeran outlined seven reasons why chronic hunger can be overcome and has expressed commitment to meeting the UN Millennium Development Goal of halving hunger and poverty by 2015.
...
Wikipedia