Yesterday, May 15, the UN migration agency announced the election of Amy Pope of the United States as its next director general.
49-year-old Pope will be the first woman to head the International Organization for Migration.
In a statement, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said member states elected Pope to lead the Geneva-based agency at a special session. She will start her five-year term on Oct. 1.
She currently serves as the deputy of Director General Antonio Vitorino, a former Portuguese government minister; she ran against and defeated him in Monday’s election.
The face-off was unusual in that Pope was looking to unseat her boss in a contest between allies. The United States and Portugal are fellow NATO members.
Prior to her victory, Pope and Vitorino shook hands and smiled as they arrived together for the announcement that she had won.
