Commenting on the new appointment, Göran Bexell, chair of the Board of Trustees at Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation said: ‘We are pleased to have Henrik Hammargren as our new Executive Director. He brings broad experience from the work areas covered by the Foundation, not at least from the UN system.’
On his appointment, Hammargren said: ‘I am delighted, honoured and excited at the prospect of working with the Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation. It is has a unique position, acting in the spirit of Dag Hammarskjöld, as a facilitator in development issues. Through active networking and partnerships, and by focusing on results, I look forward continuing the Foundation’s work in relation to development, peace and security.’
During the course of his career, Hammargren has spent twenty years in managerial and policy analyst roles, advising bi- and multilateral development co-operation, serving the Swedish government and with the OECD. Areas of focus have included humanitarian aid, conflict management and peacebuilding, and support to democracy and human rights. In addition, he has ten years of in-country experience from Eastern-, Southern and Northern Africa and South East Asia, mainly in conflict and post-conflict situations. Recent tasks have included the Chairmanship of the Financing and Aid Architecture of the OECD DACs Network on Conflict and Fragility (INCAF) and work on developing Peace- and Statebuilding Goals and Compacts for improved aid delivery in Fragile States within the International Dialogue on Peacebuilding and Statebuilding. Prior to engagement in development co-operation, Hammargren worked in the private sector.