The United Nations has appointed Luke J. Lindberg as the new Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP), the UN’s leading humanitarian agency dedicated to fighting global hunger. Announced on September 18, 2026, the appointment was made by UN Secretary-General António Guterres and FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu following consultations with the WFP Executive Board. Lindberg, who previously served as the US Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, succeeds Cindy McCain. He takes on the role at a critical time, as conflict, extreme weather and economic hardship continue to drive food insecurity worldwide. The WFP provides food assistance to vulnerable communities across the globe, making its leadership crucial to international hunger-relief efforts.