Director-General of the World Trade Organization - Definition and Overview

The Director-General of the World Trade Organization holds the highest permanent office of the World Trade Organization, and is responsible for supervising the administrative functions of the organization. Because World Trade Organizations are made by member states (through either a Ministerial Conference or through the General Council), the Director-General has little power over matters of policy - the role is primarily a technical one.

The current Director-General is Supachai Panitchpakdi of Thailand.

Past Directors-General

This is a list of former holders of the office of director-general. The post was created in 1965, although the earlier office of Executive Secretary is often seen as a direct equivalent.