Brazil's Roberto Azevedo to be new head of World Trade Organisation

After eight years as head of the World Trade Organization, Pascal Lamy hands over his title today to Roberto Azevedo of Brazil.

Brazil's Roberto Azevedo is the new head of WTO Reuters/Valentin Flauraud

French president François Hollande has praised the 66 year-old French WTO chief for what he called his exemplary management.

Lamy says he has no firm plans for his future, dispelling certain rumours suggesting he could join the French government if there was a reshuffle at some time in the future.

A social-liberal, and former European Union Trade Commissioner, under his leadership since 2005, the WTO's membership has grown by eleven countries to 159. Last year Russia joined.

And it was under Lamy's leadership that the organisation was allowed to attend G20 summits.

However, he's had less success in reviving the so-called "Doha Round" of talks, meant to draw up a global trade mechanism accord to help develop poorer economies. It's been stalled for several years.

China, the EU, India and the United States have bickered consistently over some of the details on deregulation and trade tariffs.

Lamy's successor at the WTO, 55 year-old Brazilian career diplomat Roberto Azevedo says it's one of his challenges, admitting that the stalled Doha Round has essentially blocked the WTO.

He'll no doubt be broaching it in more depth on 9 September at Headquarters in Geneva when he's due to present his official programme.