The Executive Board of the World Health Organization, meeting in Geneva, today agreed on a shortlist of five candidates for the post of Director-General.
The short list of five candidates reads as follows (in alphabetical order):
- Dr Kazem Behbehani
- Dr Margaret Chan
- Dr Julio Frenk
- Dr Shigeru Omi
- Ms Elena Salgado Méndez
On Tuesday, the Board will interview the five candidates, and on Wednesday it will nominate one of them for the post of Director-General of the Organization. This nomination will be submitted to the World Health Assembly, which will meet for a one-day special session on Thursday to appoint the next Director-General.
The current election follows the sudden death of Dr LEE Jong-wook, WHO Director-General, on 22 May 2006. At its meeting on 23 May, the WHO Executive Board agreed on an "accelerated process" for electing a Director-General, which will culminate on 9 November with the appointment of the next Director-General.
For more information contact:
Christine McNab
Acting-Director, WHO Communications Department
Telephone: +41 22 791 4688
Mobile phone: +41 79 254 6815
E-mail: mcnabc@who.int
Iain Simpson
Team leader, News and Advocacy
WHO, Geneva
Telephone: +41 22 791 3215
Mobile phone: +41 79 254 3215
E-mail: simpsoni@who.int
Fadéla Chaib
Communications Officer
WHO, Geneva
Telephone: +41 22 791 3228
Mobile phone: +41 79 475 5556
E-mail: chaibf@who.int