Dr Colin Tukuitonga is the new director-general of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.
The Pacnews agency reports the Conference of the Pacific Community confirmed his appointment today.
He takes over from Dr Jimmie Rodgers, who completes his 8 year term in January.
Dr Tukuitonga, who is Niuean, was one of 3 candidates shortlisted for the position.
The other two were PNG's high commissioner in Suva, Peter Eafeare, and American David Cohen, a corporate lawyer, who was the first American of Samoan descent to head the United States Department of the Interior's Office of Insular Affairs.
Dr Tukuitonga, who at the moment is director of public health at the SPC, was previously co-ordinator of surveillance and prevention of chronic diseases for the World Health Organisation in Geneva.
A medical doctor he has also held senior posts in New Zealand's Ministry of Health and was the chief executive of New Zealand's Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs.
