IAEA Board of Governors selected Ambassador Yukiya Amano of Japan as IAEA Director General according to IAEA.org. His term as Director General would begin 1 December 2009. The IAEA Director General is appointed for a term of four years.

Ambassador Amano has extensive experience in disarmament, non-proliferation and nuclear energy policy and has been involved in the negotiation of major international instruments.

He has held increasingly senior positions in the Japanese Foreign Ministry, notably as Director of the Science Division, Director of the Nuclear Energy Division and Deputy Director General for Arms Control and Scientific Affairs.