Administration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr., 2021

December 10, 2021

Ambassador Cathy Russell has been a trusted and indispensable advisor to Jill and me for nearly 30 years. In that time, Jill and I have witnessedâand benefited countless times fromâ Cathy's leadership, experience, wisdom, and empathy. And it is because of those qualities that I could not be more proud that the U.N. Secretary-General has announced his intent to appoint her as the next Executive Director of UNICEF.

We will miss Cathy. But our loss is UNICEF's gain, because children around the world will lead richer, safer, and healthier lives as a direct result of Cathy's leadership in this new role. As a first-rate public servant, policy expert, and manager who has worked tirelessly to advocate for children and empower women and girlsâincluding as the United States Ambassador for Global Women's Issues in the Obama-Biden AdministrationâCathy is exceptionally well prepared to lead UNICEF's critical work on behalf of young people around the world. UNICEF is lucky to have her.

Under Cathy's leadership, the White House Office of Presidential Personnel (PPO) has broken records in both speed and diversity of hiring, working relentlessly to ensure that our Federal Government reflects America and delivers for the American people. I am also pleased that Gautam Raghavan, who has worked in tandem with Cathy from day one, will become PPO's new Director, a seamless transition that will enable us to continue building a Federal workforce that is efficient, effective, dependable, and diverse.

NOTE: The statement referred to Secretary-General AntÃ³nio Manuel de Oliveira Guterres of the United Nations. The Office of the Press Secretary also released biographies of Executive Director Russell and Director Raghavan.

Categories: Appointments and nominations : White House Office of Presidential Personnel Director, appointment, statement; Statements by the President : U.N. Childrenâs Fund (UNICEF), appointment of Catherine M. Russell as Executive Director.

Names: Biden, Jill T.; Guterres, AntÃ³nio Manuel de Oliveira; Obama, Barack; Raghavan, Gautam; Russell, Catherine M.

Subjects: Civil rights : Women's rights and gender equality; United Nations : Secretary-General; United Nations : U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF); White House Office : Presidential Personnel, Office of.

DCPD Number: DCPD202101042.

1