On May 1, 2010, Anthony Lake began his tenure as UNICEF sixth Executive Director, bringing more than 45 years of public and international service to the position.

Anthony Lake was appointed by UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, following consultations with UNICEF Executive Board. On announcing the appointment on March 16, 2010, the Secretary-General noted that Mr. Lake brings with him “a wealth of experience after a long and distinguished career with the United States government.”

Mr. Lake has worked with leaders and policy makers across the world. As National Security Advisor (1993 - 1997) under President Bill Clinton, and as State Department Director of Policy Planning in the Carter administration (1977 - 1981), he managed the full range of foreign policy, national security, and humanitarian and development issues. In 2007-2008, he served as a senior foreign policy advisor to the presidential campaign of Barack Obama.

His commitment to peace and security are hallmarks of his career. After leaving government in 1997, he served as the United States President's Special Envoy, to Haiti as well as Ethiopia and Eritrea. His efforts, for which he received the 2000 White House Samuel Nelson Drew Award, contributed to the achievement of the Algiers Agreement that ended the war between Ethiopia and Eritrea. He also played a leading role in shaping policies that led to peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Northern Ireland.