New York Ms. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka took the oath of office as the Executive Director of UN Women during a ceremony today at UN Headquarters presided over by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

She is the second Executive Director of the organization created in 2010 to lead the UN’s work on advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment. Ms. Mlambo-Ngcuka’s appointment was announced by the Secretary-General on 10 July 2013.

A South African national, Ms. Mlambo-Ngcuka brings to her new position a wealth of experience. She was the first woman to hold the position of Deputy President of South Africa from 2005 to 2008. She became a Member of Parliament in 1994, chairing the Public Service Portfolio Committee. She was Deputy Minister in the Department of Trade and Industry (1996-1999), Minister of Minerals and Energy (1999-2005) and briefly served as acting Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology in 2004.