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Prof. Carlos Correa of Argentina, an influential academic whose analyses of patents and medicines access have informed debates and challenged the status quo for decades, has been named the next executive director of the South Centre. He will take over for Martin Khor, who will be retiring after nine years at the helm. Separately, former South African President Thabo Mbeki was named chair of the Board.

Correa was unanimously appointed to lead the South Centre during the organisation’s 40th Board meeting from 10-12 April. He will take over on 1 July 2018. The South Centre is an intergovernmental organisation based in Geneva, representing developing countries. It plays a prominent role as a think tank and in negotiations in Geneva and beyond.

Correa will succeed Martin Khor of Malaysia, who served as executive director for the South Centre for the past nine years after moving over from his leadership post of longstanding at the nongovernmental Third World Network.

Khor, who was known for penning articles and speaking on a range of key policy issues like development, finance, intellectual property, and the environment, will leave office as of 30 June. Under Khor, the organisation from an outside perspective regained relative stability and productivity after a period of some tumult.

Where Khor might have been seen as more of an advocate coming in, Correa may be considered as coming more from a legal and academic standpoint.

“Dr. Correa is a well-known international lawyer and academic, with deep expertise and experience on issues that affect developing countries such as on international trade, intellectual property, health, technology transfer, and investment policy,” the South Centre said in a release today.

He has been the special advisor to the South Centre on Trade and Intellectual Property for the past eight years, and has long been a professor at the University of Buenos Aires.

Also at the South Centre, former President of South Africa Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki was named chair of the Board. He takes over for Benjamin William Mkapa, former president of Tanzania, concluded his tenure as the outgoing chair.