The CMS Secretariat is proud to announce that Mr. Robert Hepworth has been appointed Executive Secretary of the UNEP Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS). Mr. Hepworth has been working for CMS as Acting Executive Secretary since August 2004 and brings with him a longstanding commitment and experience in wildlife conservation.

Robert Hepworth has previously acted as Head of Global Wildlife in the UK (DEFRA) and joined UNEP as Deputy Director of the Division for Environmental Conventions in 2000, thus actively contributing to both the implementation and negotiation of international wildlife conventions and legislation.

Having served as Chair of the CMS Standing Committee in the early 1990s and as Chair of several Conferences of the Parties, he will bring the perspective of CMS Parties as well as UNEP to his post. He has also acted as Vice Chair and Chair of the CITES Standing Committee during the period 1994-2000.

With the recent appointment of Mr. Hepworth as Executive Secretary, the CMS Secretariat has completed its process of recruitment and is now fully staffed. The "CMS team" is looking forward to working with Robert in the coming years and stands ready to assist him in his endeavors towards conservation.

CONGRATULATIONS ROBERT!!