John Holmes, Under-Secretary-General and Emergency Relief Coordinator
The Under-Secretary-General and Emergency Relief Coordinator (USG/ERC) is responsible for oversight of all emergencies requiring United Nations humanitarian assistance. She/He also acts as the central focal point for Governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental relief activities.
In a country affected by a disaster or conflict, the ERC may appoint a Humanitarian Coordinator (HC) to ensure that response efforts are well organized. The HC works with Government, international organizations, non-governmental organizations and affected communities. An OCHA office will be established to support the HC.
On 1 March 2007, the Secretary-General announced the appointment of Mr. John Holmes of the United Kingdom as the new Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, succeeding Mr. Jan Egeland.
John Holmes's Bio
Mr. Holmes was previously the British Ambassador in Paris from October 2001 to February 2007. A career diplomat, he joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in 1973, and served in a wide range of posts and roles. He began his career in London, including a spell covering the United Nations. This involved a period of temporary duty at the 1975 General Assembly as part of the British Mission to the United Nations in New York. In 1976, Mr. Holmes was appointed to the British Embassy in Moscow as a Second Secretary. Returning to London in 1978, he dealt with Lebanon and the Middle East peace process before being appointed Assistant Private Secretary to the British Foreign Secretary in 1982, covering the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Latin America. In 1984, he went to the British Embassy in Paris as First Secretary to cover economic and European Union questions.
Mr. Holmes returned to London in 1987 as Assistant Head of the then Soviet Department in the FCO, and subsequently spent two years, between 1989 and 1991, on secondment to Thomas De La Rue, a British company of security printers. In 1991, Mr. Holmes went to India as Political, then Economic and Commercial Counsellor at the British High Commission in New Delhi, supervising the British aid programme, as well as economic and commercial issues.
On return to London in 1995, he was briefly head of the European Union Department (External) in the FCO before joining the then Prime Minister John Major in Downing Street as his Private Secretary (Overseas Affairs) and Diplomatic Adviser. He continued this role with Prime Minister Tony Blair from 1997 to 1999, becoming Principal Private Secretary. Mr. Holmes was also the British G8 Sherpa during this time, including the British G8 Presidency of 1998. He was awarded a knighthood in 1999, primarily for his role in the Northern Ireland peace process and the Good Friday Agreement.
From 1999 to 2001, John Holmes was the British Ambassador in Lisbon, before moving on to Paris from 2001 to 2007.
John Holmes was born in Preston, in the north of England, in 1951, and educated at Preston Grammar School and Balliol College, Oxford. He married Penelope (nee Morris) in 1976. Sir John and Lady Holmes have three daughters: Sarah, Lucy and Emilie.