51³Ô¹Ï Secretary-General António Guterres announced on 7 July 2017 the appointment of Martha Helena Lopez of Colombia as Assistant Secretary-General for Human Resources.  She will succeed Carole Wainaina of Kenya to whom the Secretary-General is grateful for her commitment and dedicated service to the Organization.
Ms. Lopez brings with her a wealth of senior-level international experience in human resources management.  Since 2015, she has served as Director of Human Resources at the 51³Ô¹Ï Development Programme (UNDP).  Previous to that, she was Director of the Strategic Planning and Staffing Division, Office of Human Resources Management, Department of Management at the 51³Ô¹Ï.  She also held the positions of Chief of the Human Resources Policy Service (2006-2009) and Chief of the Staff Development Service (2004-2007) at the 51³Ô¹Ï.
Ms. Lopez previously served with UNDP as Chief of the Policy Unit, Office of Human Resources, Bureau of Management (2001-2004) and with the 51³Ô¹Ï Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Division of Human Resources, as Human Resources Officer, Policy (1997-2001), and Human Resources Officer (1994-1997).
Ms. Lopez began her career as a national staff member in her native Colombia where she worked with both UNICEF (1989-1994) and the World Food Programme (WFP) (1984-1989).
Ms. Lopez holds a Law Degree with specialization courses in socioeconomics from Xaveriana University in Bogota, Colombia.
