UNHCR Announces New Leadership Team Appointments

Salih praised their contributions, saying their leadership had strengthened UNHCR’s ability to provide protection and assistance to millions of displaced and stateless people worldwide.

The United Nations refugee agency is preparing for a major leadership transition after Secretary-General António Guterres announced the appointment of three senior officials to some of the organisation's highest-ranking positions.

Tressa Rae Finerty has been appointed Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees, while Antón Leis García will serve as Assistant High Commissioner for Operations and Edem Wosornu will become Assistant High Commissioner for Protection.

The three appointments were welcomed by UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih, who said their experience and leadership would help strengthen the agency's response to growing displacement challenges around the world.

The positions rank among the most senior within the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), supporting the High Commissioner in overseeing global efforts to protect refugees, stateless people and others forced to flee conflict, persecution and crises.

The newly appointed officials are expected to assume their duties in the coming weeks.

Experienced leaders bring diverse international backgrounds

Finerty joins the role after a long career in the United States Foreign Service. She currently serves as Chargé d'Affaires for the United States Mission to the United Nations and other international organisations in Geneva.

Throughout her diplomatic career, she has held several senior positions, including Deputy Chief of Mission in Geneva and Deputy Executive Secretary in the Office of the US Secretary of State. Her international assignments have included postings in Malaysia, Iraq, Armenia and Thailand. She has also taught refugee policy courses at New York University and Georgetown University.

Leis García currently leads the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), Spain's principal development and humanitarian agency.

His professional experience spans several international institutions, including the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the Office of the President of the Spanish Government, the African Development Bank and the World Bank Group. His background in development finance and international cooperation is expected to support UNHCR's operational work across multiple regions.

Wosornu arrives from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), where she serves as Director of the Crisis Response Division and chairs the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Emergency Directors Group.

Her career has included numerous leadership positions in humanitarian operations at headquarters and field levels. Interestingly, her journey within the United Nations system began as an intern at UNHCR before she moved on to a distinguished humanitarian career. Before joining the UN, she worked in the legal sector in the United Kingdom.

Tribute paid to departing leaders

High Commissioner Salih also paid tribute to the outgoing leadership team, whose terms are coming to an end after years of service.

Kelly T. Clements, Deputy High Commissioner, Raouf Mazou, Assistant High Commissioner for Operations, and Ruvendrini Menikdiwela, Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, will be stepping down from their respective positions.

Salih praised their contributions, saying their leadership had strengthened UNHCR's ability to provide protection and assistance to millions of displaced and stateless people worldwide.

The appointments come at a time when forced displacement remains at historically high levels, driven by conflicts, humanitarian crises, climate-related disasters and political instability across several regions.

With refugee movements continuing to place pressure on humanitarian systems globally, the new leadership team will play a central role in guiding UNHCR's efforts to expand protection, support self-reliance initiatives and pursue long-term solutions for people forced from their homes.