UN chief appoints new executive director of International Trade Centre

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon on Thursday appointed Arancha Gonzalez of Spain as the new Executive Director of the International Trade Centre (ITC), replacing Patricia Francis.

Gonzalez brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the ITC, coupled with extensive public and private sector experience in trade and development matters, as well as in management of multilateral organizations, said an announcement bearing Ban's order.

"She will play an important role in further developing the ITC, whose mission is to help promote exports of developing countries and countries in transition," the announcement stated.

Gonzalez has served as Chief of Staff at the World Trade Organization (WTO) for the last eight years and also served in various capacities in the European Commission where she held several positions in the area of international trade, according to the announcement.

ITC is the joint agency of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the WTO for trade and international business development.