Gerd Müller has been director general of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization since Dec. 10, 2021. Under his leadership, UNIDO has implemented reforms to increase efficiency and impact, welcomed three new member states, and increased its technical cooperation delivery to partner countries by 62%. In 2013, he was appointed German federal minister for economic cooperation and development, a position he held until December 2021. Previously he served as deputy minister at the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection, and as a member of the German Parliament (1994-2021) and the European Parliament (1989-1994).