
Pierre Krähenbühl is Director-General of the International Committee
of the Red Cross (ICRC), a position he assumed in April 2024. As head of
the ICRC’s executive body, he is responsible for steering the
organisation’s global humanitarian activities and its 18,000 staff in more
than 100 countries, with a yearly budget of over USD 2.1 billion.
Mr Krähenbühl has dedicated more than 30 years to the humanitarian sector, including 25 years in
prominent roles at the ICRC in delegations and at headquarters. His previous leadership appointments
at the ICRC include director of operations (2002-2014) and personal adviser to the President of the
ICRC (2000-2002). Mr Krähenbühl also carried out various operational assignments in El Salvador, Peru,
Afghanistan, and Bosnia and Herzegovina (1991-1998); and as head of operations for Central and
South-Eastern Europe, based in Geneva (1998-2000).
Immediately prior to holding the Director-General position, Mr Krähenbühl was secretary-general to
the Assembly at the ICRC (2023-2024). He served as the personal envoy of the ICRC President to China
and head of regional delegation for East Asia (2021-2023). In 2014 he was appointed as
commissioner-general and under-secretary general of the United Nations at UNWRA (2014-2019).
He holds an MA in political science and international relations from the University of Geneva and
Graduate Institute of International Relations.