Miliband Appointed President Of IRC

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) announced Wednesday the appointment of David Miliband as president and CEO. He will succeed George Rupp, who led the organization since 2002, and will begin his duties in September.

Miliband had served as the United Kingdom's foreign secretary from 2007-10, becoming the youngest such person in that position in the country's history. He also had many other notable accomplishments during his 15-year political career in the U.K., including spearheading the country's 2006 Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Bill, the world's first legally binding framework for reducing carbon emissions. He is currently a member of Parliament representing South Shields.

"I am deeply honored to have been appointed president of the IRC," Miliband said. "Thanks to the leadership of George Rupp, the dedication of its staff and the confidence of its donors, the IRC today is strong, effective and widely respected, and I am committed to helping the IRC team build on their great work."

Rupp praised the appointment of Miliband, calling him an "experienced world leader and a man of both action and character."

"I look forward to witnessing this next exciting chapter of the IRC’s incredible journey of helping the most desperate people move from harm to home," he continued.

IRC's mission, as stated on the nonprofit's website, is to "respond to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives." It was founded in 1933 at the suggestion of Albert Einstein to help victims of the Nazis. Since then, it boasts nearly 13,000 volunteers at locations all over the world, including London and New York City.