UN appoints Tom Fletcher as new humanitarian chief

New OCHA undersecretary general is an 'internationally recognised communicator', world body says

Tom Fletcher is the UN's undersecretary general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief co-ordinator in the Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Delores Johnson / The National

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres has appointed Tom Fletcher as the world body's new humanitarian chief.

Mr Fletcher will take over as undersecretary general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief co-ordinator in the Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

He is currently principal at Hertford College, Oxford, and vice-chairman of Oxford University’s Conference of Colleges.

A former columnist with The National, he wrote the internationally acclaimed study of digitally driven changes in diplomacy, The Naked Diplomat.

Previously an aide to former UK prime minister Tony Blair, Mr Fletcher has experience in leading and transforming organisations and bringing an understanding of diplomacy at the highest levels, said the UN statement announcing his appointment.

He has served as global strategy director at the Global Business Coalition for Education and led work there on refugee education.

Mr Fletcher succeeds another Briton, Martin Griffiths, to whom Mr Guterres said he was “deeply grateful for his outstanding work, dedicated service and long-standing commitment”.

“Joyce Msuya, assistant secretary general for humanitarian affairs and deputy emergency relief co-ordinator who will continue to serve as acting undersecretary general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief co-ordinator until Mr Fletcher assumes his position,” a UN statement read.

The UN called the former British diplomat “an internationally recognised communicator, through his books and media work across the fields of development, diplomacy, technology and democracy, with a blend of technocratic expertise and public diplomacy".

Mr Fletcher has worked closely with the UN during his diplomatic career in Africa, the Middle East and Europe.

He previously served as the UK’s ambassador to Lebanon from 2011-2015 and as foreign and development policy adviser to three UK prime ministers. He also led the UK’s Middle East Peace Process unit at the Foreign Office from 1997-1998.

In addition, he served as visiting professor at New York University and Emirates Diplomatic Academy between 2016 and 2019.