Ban Ki-moon makes appointments to top UN jobs

Secretary General Ban Ki-moon appointed a Mexican environmentalist who was chief of staff to former Secretary-General Kofi Annan to spearhead UN reform efforts and a British diplomat who served as a top adviser to two prime ministers as the UN’s new humanitarian chief.

Alicia Barcena Ibarra will replace American Christopher Burnham as under secretary general for management and John Holmes will replace Norway’s Jan Egeland as under secretary general for political affairs and emergency relief co-ordinator.