The Director-General of the World Trade Organization is responsible for supervising the administrative functions of the WTO. Because World Trade Organizations' decisions are made by member states (through either a Ministerial Conference or through the General Council), the Director-General has little power over matters of policy - the role is primarily advisory and managerial. Director-General supervises the WTO secretariat of about 700 staff. WTO Director-General is appointed by WTO members for term of four years.
The current Director-General (since September 2005) is Pascal Lamy of France.
Past Directors-General
This is a list of former holders of the office of director-general. The post was created in 1995, although the earlier office of Executive Secretary is often seen as a direct equivalent.
