UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today announced that Stephane Dujarric will be his new spokesperson, taking over from Martin Nesirky who will be moving to the world body's office in Vienna.
Dujarric, who was the spokesperson for Ban's predecessor Kofi Annan, will assume his new role on March 10. He is currently Director of the News and Media Division in the Department of Public Information.
Ban also announced that Farhan Haq, who has been working as Acting Deputy Spokesperson, will be formally appointed as Deputy Spokesperson.
"I thank all of my spokespersons for their commitment to me and to the United Nations Organisation," Ban said as he announced the appointments.
Nesirky has been Ban's spokesperson for the last four years. He recently informed Ban that due to family issues, he wanted to have another position.
"He has been at my side during an especially tumultuous period in world affairs. Throughout that time he has been a model spokesperson of the United Nations: accessible, authoritative, cool under pressure, fast on his feet and quick with a joke," Ban said of Nesirky.
Ban thanked Nesirky for for his hard work, "stellar service, his sound advice and his friendship."
Nesirky would be in New York till March 7 after which he will take on a new assignment in the UN office in Vienna, Austria.
