IMO Secretary General Will Retire in 2015

Koji Sekimizu, secretary general of IMO, has announced he will step down at the end of his first term of office ending in December 2015 for personal reasons.

His wife has been seriously ill Sekimizu has decided to commit himself to caring for her in case she becomes unwell again.
 
61-year-old Sekimizu said in his blog post: “I hope she will not become unwell again, of course, but I know, that cannot be guaranteed, and it could be more so if I was honoured for another term of four years, and I cannot accept not being able to one hundred percent commit myself to the work of IMO. This is the reason for not seeking reappointment.

"As the Chinese saying goes, “the person who chases two rabbits, catches neither.” 

Many expected Sekimizu to hold the post for the typical two terms which would have seen him in the post until 2019.

Sekimizu urged IMO member states continue to support him over his remaining term in office. “I would like to seek continuous support and cooperation from Member Governments and permanent representatives and the staff in the Secretariat,” he said.