How is the Secretary-General appointed?
The Secretary-General is appointed by the General Assembly, on the recommendation of the Security Council. The Secretary-General's selection is therefore subject to the veto of any of the five permanent members of the Security Council.
Mr. Kofi Annan, the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations, took office on 1 January 1997.
Although there is technically no limit to [the] number of five-year terms a Secretary-General may serve, none so far has held office for more than two terms.