Ambassador K Kesavapany, ISEAS Director with effect from 1 November 2002 will be ISEAS chief administrative and academic officer. His primary responsibilities would be to plan, organize and supervise all the professional and research activities of the Institute.

Prior to his appointment to the Directorship of ISEAS, Ambassador Kesavapany was Singapore's High Commissioner to Malaysia since March 1997. In his 30-year career in the Foreign Service, he served as Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva (December 1991 - March 1997) and held key staff appointments in MFA, including Director of ASEAN, Director of Directorate II (North America and Europe) and Director of Directorate IV (International Organizations and Third World).

Ambassador Kesavapany was an active participant in the final phase of the Uruguay Round negotiations. He was unanimously chosen as the first Chairman of the WTO's General Council in 1995. Subsequently, he played a key role in securing Singapore as the venue for the first WTO Ministerial Meeting in 1996.

Ambassador Kesavapany, a Singaporean, is married to Padmini and has two sons.