"Ramiro is the ultimate paradigm of loyalty and devotion, not only to WFP but to the United Nations and the world’s vulnerable people,” Sheeran said.  “He inspires a similar loyalty and devotion from his troops, wherever he serves.  His word is gold and this is known inside WFP and throughout the world.”

Lopes da Silva is currently WFP’s Deputy Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Director of Emergencies, and has been acting as WFP's Special Envoy to the Greater Horn of Africa.  He replaces Staffan de Mistura, who is stepping down following his appointment as Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in Afghanistan.

“Staffan has been a tireless worker for the United Nations, serving since joining as a young man in some of the most dangerous missions on earth – from Kosovo to Iraq and now to Afghanistan.  All of us wish Staffan well in his new role,” Sheeran said.

The announcement of Lopes da Silva came on Monday at the opening of WFP's Executive Board meeting in Rome. He will take up his new duties on 1 March.

Since Lopes da Silva joined WFP in 1985 as a food aid logistics coordinator in Cameroon, he has served as WFP Country Director in Angola, WFP Head of Logistics, Special Envoy to Afghanistan and UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq as well as leading big operations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Pakistan.

Prior to joining WFP, Lopes da Silva worked for the Mozambique Port and Railways (CFM) from 1975 to 1983.  While he started as a Port Equipment Maintenance Engineer, by 1978 he was the Director-General of the CFM-South, with 17,000 workers reporting to him and managing a budget in excess of US$100,000,000.

Lope da Silva has a Masters in Electrical Engineering from the University of Mozambique.