HE Leonid Bokhanovskiy is the first Secretary General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum and was appointed in this position by Resolution No. 1/MM-09/2009 of the 9th Ministerial Meeting (Doha, Qatar, 9th December 2009)for the period of 2010-2011.
The Ministerial Meeting appoints the Secretary General for a period of two years, whose contract may be renewed once for the same period of time. This appointment takes place upon nomination by Member Countries.
The Secretary General is the chief officer in the Secretariat and is the legally authorized representative of the Forum. In this capacity, he has the authority to administer the affairs of the Forum in accordance with directions of the Executive Board and the GECF Statute, and is liable and accountable to the Executive Board and the Ministerial Meeting.
The Secretary General ensures that the Budget and the Programs of Work of the Forum are complied with; organizes and administers the work of the Forum; prepares reports for submission to Executive Board meetings.
The Secretary General is assisted in the discharge of his duties by a team of officers and staff including three Department Heads, Head of the Office of the Secretary General, the Legal Officer, the Public Relations Officer and the Internal Auditor.