Cindy McCain, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations food agencies in Rome, has been chosen to lead the World Food Programme over the next five years, replacing David Beasley when he steps down in April, according to three well-placed diplomatic sources.
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres is expected to inform the food agency’s 36-member state executive board when it convenes in Rome on Monday for its first annual meeting. He is not likely to publicly announce the decision before later next week.
The appointment, which begins April 5, places Washington D.C. royalty at the head of a U.N. agency that depends heavily on United States financial support to carry out its global mission.