Director-General's List A new Director-General is elected every four years (previously every six years) by the General Conference. Under his authority, the Secretariat is expected to translate into reality the programmes approved by the General Conference. The present Director-General of UNESCO, who was appointed in 1999, is Koïchiro Matsuura of Japan.

1999 - Koïchiro Matsuura, Japan 1987 - 1999 Federico Mayor, Spain 1974 - 1987 Amadou-Mahtar M'Bow, Senegal 1962 - 1974 (acting 1959, 1961-1962) René Maheu, France 1958 - 1961 Vittorino Veronese, Italy 1953 - 1958 Luther Evans, United States 1952 - 1953 (acting DG) John W. Taylor, United States 1948 - 1952 Jaime Torres Bodet, Mexico 1946 - 1948 Julian Huxley, United Kingdom

		02Koïchiro Matsuura (1937-) Japan, 1999 -

		06Vittorino Veronese (1910-1986) Italy, 1958 - 1961

		07Luther Evans (1902-1981) United States, 1953 - 1958

		03Federico Mayor (1934-) Spain, 1987 - 1999

		08John W. Taylor (1906-2001) United States, Acting DG 1952 - 1953

		04Amadou-Mahtar M'Bow (1921-) Senegal, 1974 - 1987

		10Julian Huxley (1887-1975) United Kingdom, 1946 - 1948

		09Jaime Torres Bodet (1902-1974) Mexico, 1948 - 1952

		05René Maheu (1905-1975) France, 1962 - 1974 (acting 1959, 1961-1962)