United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan is pleased to announce the appointment of Charmine Hiroyo Koda as Director of the United Nations Information Centre in Tokyo, Japan.Ms. Koda comes to this position with extensive experience in the broadcast media, with non-governmental organizations and in advocacy work, especially on environmental and education issues.She is expected to take up her duties on 3 April.

Ms. Koda is a well known personality in Japan through her work as a television news anchor, host and commentator.She also has experience in radio and the print media, and is the author of several books.Ms. Koda has long been associated with a variety of non-governmental organizations in Japan, dealing primarily with issues of environment and education, and currently serves on the boards of several organizations.She has also participated in a number of projects with the United Nations University in Japan.

Ms. Koda holds a master’s degree in public administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.