India's career diplomat Kamlesh Sharma is the new Commonwealth Secretary General.

66-year-old retired IFS officer Sharma, currently High Commissioner in the UK, will hold the prestigious post for two years beginning March next year when the incumbent Don Mckinnon's two-time term ends.

Sharma was elected to the post at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting currently underway here.

Having immense experience in dealing with global issues, Sharma has served with distinction at various key positions including as India's Permanent Representative to the UN and spokesperson for developing countries in the UNCTAD during the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations.

Sharma has also played a key role in both South-South and North-South relations.

Sharma is currently a member of the Board of Governors of Commonwealth Secretariat and the Commonwealth Foundation where he has taken keen interest in the activities and guided India's close engagement with the Commonwealth since 2004.

He has served as India's Permanent Representative in New York during which he chaired the Working Group on Financing for Development and the successful consensus building that he has achieved led to the conference yielding the 'Monterrey Consensus' in the conference in Mexico.

He was closely engaged in the process which led to the formulation and adoption of the Millennium Development Goals.

Sharma also had the distinction of being the first Special Representative of UN Secretary General to independent East Timor where he was directly engaged in all aspects of nation building and safeguarding its security.