UN chief names Cindy McCain to run World Food Programme

By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) -United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced on Thursday that Cindy McCain, widow of the late U.S. Republican Senator John McCain, will lead the U.N. World Food Programme.

McCain is currently the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations agencies for food and agriculture. She will replace David Beasley, a former Republican governor from South Carolina, who steps down after six years in the role.

McCain's appointment was made jointly by Guterres and the head of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, Qu Dongyu, a former vice minister of agriculture and rural affairs in China.

U.S. President Joe Biden nominated McCain to head the WFP, a job traditionally held by an American. She backed Biden in his campaign against former President Donald Trump in the 2020 election.

The U.S. is the largest contributor to WFP, giving more than $7 billion in 2022.

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; editing by Kanishka Singh and Josie Kao)