WTO Director-General Azevedo announced that he will leave early
Xinhua News Agency, Geneva, May 14 (Reporter Ling Xin and Nie Xiaoyang) World Trade Organization Director General Azevedo announced on the 14th that he will formally leave office on August 31, ending his term one year earlier.
In a special video conference attended by 164 WTO member representatives on the same day, Azevedo announced that he decided to resign as WTO Director-General on August 31. Azevedo said that his decision to leave early was not due to health reasons or to seek "political opportunities." "This is a personal decision, a family decision. I believe this decision is in the best interests of this organization." .
Azevedo was born in Brazil in 1957 and served as the Director General of the WTO in September 2013. He was successfully re-elected in 2017 and will serve until August 31, 2021.