Anthony Lake begins his tenure as UNICEF Executive Director
On 1 May 2010 Anthony Lake begans his tenure as UNICEF’s sixth Executive Director, bringing more than 45 years of public and international service to the position, according to UN Yerevan office press office.
Anthony Lake was appointed by UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, following consultations with UNICEF’s Executive Board. On announcing the appointment on 16 March 2010, the Secretary-General noted that Mr. Lake brings with him “a wealth of experience after a long and distinguished career with the United States government.”
Mr. Lake has worked with leaders and policy makers across the world. As National Security Advisor (1993 - 1997) under President Bill Clinton, and as State Department Director of Policy Planning in the Carter administration (1977 - 1981), he managed the full range of foreign policy, national security, and humanitarian and development issues. In 2007-2008, he served as a senior foreign policy advisor to the presidential campaign of Barack Obama.
His commitment to peace and security are hallmarks of his career. After leaving government in 1997, he served as the United States President's Special Envoy, to Haiti as well as Ethiopia and Eritrea. His efforts, for which he received the 2000 White House Samuel Nelson Drew Award, contributed to the achievement of the Algiers Agreement that ended the war between Ethiopia and Eritrea. He also played a leading role in shaping policies that led to peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Northern Ireland.
From 1998 to 2007 he served on the Board of the US Fund for UNICEF, with a term as Chair from 2004 to 2007, after which he was appointed a permanent honorary member.
Mr. Lake is married and has three children and five grandchildren.