ITTO’s governing body, the International Tropical Timber Council, elected Gerhard Dieterle as ITTO’s new Executive Director by consensus at its 52nd session in Yokohama on 12 November 2016. Dr Dieterle won the position from a strong field of six candidates and after deliberations on the matter at two previous Council sessions.

Dr Dieterle, a citizen of Germany, has a strong background for the post. He has 35 years of experience in national and international forest policies, environmental and development policies, sustainable forest management, landscape management and conservation. Currently at the World Bank and based in the USA, Dr Dieterle has also worked in Indonesia and Togo.

In accepting the appointment, Dr Dieterle thanked his competitors for their fairness and positive attitudes, as well as the Council members for their willingness to come together at this session to solve the challenges of ITTO’s future.

“I will invest every effort to nurture this partnership between producers and consumers,” said Dr Dieterle. “With this, ITTO can grow and regain financial health.”

In his presentation to the Council before his appointment, Dr Dieterle said he was committed to act in the best interests of all producer and consumer countries and to promote an atmosphere of trust, collaboration and partnership.

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