The Secretary-General is responsible for the overall management of the Union and acts as its legal representative. He coordinates all administrative aspects of the Union’s activities to ensure the most effective and economic use of its resources. The Deputy-Secretary-General assists the Secretary-General in the performance of his duties and performs other specific tasks entrusted to him by the Secretary-General.
Legal Affairs Unit
provides legal advice and assistance to the General Secretariat and the Bureaux on issues related to the functions, structure and activities of the Union.
Internal Audit Unit
supports the activities of the Union with the aim of ensuring the effective, economic and efficient use of resources in achieving the overall goals, strategies and priorities set in the Strategic Plan.
Ethics Office
reinforces and promotes ITU ethics policies and ensures that they are clearly understood throughout ITU.
Dr Hamadoun I. Touré has been Secretary-General of the ITU since January 2007; he was re-elected for a second term in October 2010. He has wide professional experience in both the public and private sectors.
A national of Mali, Dr Touré is committed to ITU as an innovative, forward-looking organization adapted to meeting the challenges created by the rapidly-changing ICT environment, and to continuing to spearhead ITU towards implementing the resolutions of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) and achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Dr Touré is married with four children and two grandchildren.
Houlin Zhao has served as Deputy Secretary-General of the ITU since January 2007, and was re-elected for a second four-year term in October 2010.
Prior to his election, he was Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Standardization Bureau from 1999-2006. He is committed to further streamlining ITU’s efficiency, strengthening its membership base and enhancing strategic partnership between Member States and Sector Members. He is married with one son and two grandchildren.
