Carl Skau, a Swedish diplomat, assumed the role of acting executive director of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) on June 2, 2026. He took over from Cindy McCain, who resigned in February 2026 due to health reasons after suffering a mild stroke the previous year [1, 2].
Skau has held the positions of WFP deputy executive director and chief operating officer since May 2023, roles he retains alongside his acting executive director duties [1, 2]. The WFP is headquartered in Rome, Italy [2].
Traditionally, the WFP executive director post is held by an American. The US government stated it will seek a permanent replacement for McCain to lead the organization moving forward [1, 2].
Skau’s appointment marks a temporary leadership change until a permanent executive director is selected. The WFP is one of the largest humanitarian agencies delivering food assistance worldwide.
The next concrete event will be the US government’s search for a permanent executive director to succeed Cindy McCain, with no announced timeline yet [1, 2].
