Indian to head think tank

Veteran UN diplomat of Indian origin Siddharth Chatterjee has been appointed as CEO of Global Neighbours, a Vienna-based think tank, upon his retirement as UN Resident Coordinator in China. Chatterjee, 62, retired as UN Resident Coordinator in China on Sunday. Chatterjee's appointment to head 26 UN offices in China in 2021 made headlines as it came in the midst of the India-China tensions over the eastern Ladakh standoff. During his tenure in China, he became a major draw for Chinese, Indian and global media, making waves with his high-intensity fitness regime and yoga exercises. An alumnus of India's National Defence Academy, Pune, Chatterjee served in the Indian Army before joining the UN and was decorated for gallantry in 1995. He is married to Ban Hyun-Hee, the daughter of former UN Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon from South Korea. A press release issued by the Global Neighbours said Chatterjee has been appointed as its CEO effective from March 2.