UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon on Friday reappointed Anthony Lake to head the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).

"Following consultations with the Executive Board of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the Secretary-General is pleased to reappoint Mr. Anthony Lake as Executive Director of UNICEF," UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric announced at a daily briefing.

Ban noted his appreciation of UNICEF's progress in effective management for results, especially for the most disadvantaged children.

Lake has been the sixth executive director of the UNICEF since May 1, 2010. He started his career in 1962 when he joined the U.S. state department as a foreign service officer. He worked on several presidential campaigns and became former President Bill Clinton's national security adviser.

Upon leaving the government, Lake also served as the U.S. president's special envoy, first in Ethiopia and Eritrea, and later in Haiti, from 1998 to 2000. After that, he has been an International Adviser to the International Committee of the Red Cross.