Sheriff, who was Secretary to Vice President Hamid Ansari, succeeds Vivel Kumar Agnihotri who retired yesterday, a Rajya Sabha Secretariat release said.
He would hold the office of Secretary General in the rank and status of Cabinet Secretary, on deputation, till August 31 next year.
Thereafter, he would continue in the same capacity for a further period of two years from September 1, 2013, on contractual basis.
59-year-old Sheriff has 35 years of administrative experience in government and has held various positions in states, the Centre as well as international assignments.
He began his career as a lecturer in Delhi University in 1974 and joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1977 (AGMUT).
Between 1981 and 1984, he served as Deputy Commissioner in the districts of Tawang, Subansari and Dibang in Arunachal Pradesh, following which he headed Transport Department in the Government of Delhi.
Subsequently, he served as Director in the Department of Economic Affairs in the Finance Ministry from 1990-1992, looking after bilateral assistance from European countries.
Sherrif headed the Vice-President's Secretariat and advised on parliamentary matters from 1992 to 1997, before becoming Joint Secretary and then Secretary to President of India till 2002.
