David Beasley

David Beasley is an American politician and former executive director of the United Nations World Food Programme. A member of the Republican Party, Beasley served as the 113th governor of South Carolina and as a state representative. He was nominated by United States Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley to lead the World Food Programme and was appointed by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and Food and Agriculture Organization Director-General José Graziano da Silva.

As executive director, Beasley held the rank of under-secretary-general of the United Nations and was a member of the Senior Management Group. During his tenure, the World Food Programme expanded operations in response to crises in Yemen, Syria, Afghanistan, and the Sahel. Beasley frequently addressed the United Nations Security Council and other international forums on the connections between food insecurity and conflict, and he became a recognized speaker on global food systems, humanitarian crises, and emergency leadership.

Beasley has been a member of the World Economic Forum High-Level Group on Humanitarian Investing, working to advance innovative financing models for vulnerable populations. He accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of the World Food Programme for its efforts to combat world hunger.

Following his term as executive director, Beasley has continued to speak internationally on global hunger, food security, and the importance of public–private collaboration in humanitarian response.