The United Nations Global Service Centre (UNGSC) bids farewell to Director Giovanna Ceglie, as she transitions to a new role at UN Headquarters. From prioritizing the environment to breaking down silos, and strengthening UNGSC's role in crisis response, Ms. Ceglie opened the doors to a new chapter in the Centre's history.
Under her leadership, UNGSC stepped up to ensure the continuity of critical United Nations operations worldwide throughout major challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic, the conflict in Ukraine, or, most recently, the devastating floods in Valencia, which impacted the United Nations Information and Communications Technology Facility (UNICTF).
The five years of her tenure also coincided with significant changes to the landscape of peace operations, with the liquidation of large missions in Darfur and Mali (UNAMID and MINUSMA), in which UNGSC played a key support role.
Ms. Ceglie and her teams approached these complex undertakings with efficiency, innovation, and a commitment to environmental responsibility, solidifying UNGSC's role as a key partner for disaster recovery, global service provision, and sustainability.
As a result, UNGSC's visibility increased substantially, underscored by the visits by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, other high-level dignitaries, as well as officials from Agencies, Funds, Programmes, and Regional Organizations.
Notably, Ms. Ceglie's directorship concluded with the signature of a milestone agreement between the UN and the Government of Italy to improve the Centre's Brindisi Base, enhancing UNGSC's operations and ability to serve the UN Secretariat and beyond for years to come.
As colleagues bid farewell, they celebrated Ms. Ceglie's energy and leadership, which effectively "made the impossible possible," setting the foundation for a diversified clientele and new partnerships.
Giovanna Ceglie will remain at the United Nations, as Director of the Division for Special Activities in New York. UNGSC Digital Technologies Chief and Head of Premises of the United Nations Information and Communication Technology Facility in Valencia, Michel Bergeron will serve as Interim Director.
