UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday appointed Maimunah Mohd Sharif of Malaysia as new executive director of the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat).

The appointment was made following her election by the UN General Assembly.

Sharif, who succeeds Joan Clos of Spain as UN-Habitat head, is currently mayor of Penang Island, Malaysia.

She holds a Bachelor's degree in town planning studies from the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology and a Master's degree in planning studies from the Malaysia Science University.

She is married and has two daughters.