Nakamitsu makes Fortune’s 50 Greatest Leaders list

April 23, 2018

New York- Izumi Nakamitsu, UN undersecretary-general and high representative for disarmament affairs, has been named one of the World's 50 Greatest Leaders by Fortune.

She ranked 37th, becoming the only Japanese national to make the top 50 of the influential US economic magazine.

Nakamitsu "has a reputation for clearheaded pragmatism," Brian Finlay, chief executive officer the Stimson Center, said. "Her diplomatic skills have been tested by the use of chemical weapons in Syria, but her quiet activism has helped prevent runaway conflict across the region," the think tank head pointed out.

Responding on Twitter, she said: "I am humbled by this. It is not about myself, but is a recognition of the importance of UN's disarmament work."

The 2018 list was topped by "The Students" who have been calling for a gun control in the United States since the shooting rampage at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida in February. Jiji Press