The United Nations formally announced on May 4 that Desmond Parker is the organization’s new chief of protocol. He assumed the post on April 1, replacing Alice Hecth of Belgium, who retired in 2009.
In his new post, Parker leads the U.N. Protocol and Liaison Service, which oversees the contents of the U.N. Blue Book, a document with listings of permanent missions to the global body. The service also assists in organizing visits of heads of states or governments and other dignitaries to the U.N. headquarters.
Parker served as the U.N. deputy chief of protocol since 2007.
Parker was previously involved in U.N. peacekeeping operations. He was the acting chief administrative officer for the U.N. mission in Nepal from 2002 to 2006. He also served in the human rights and peacekeeping missions in Liberia and Haiti.
