Anthony Lake, a Clinton administration national security adviser, was appointed Tuesday as executive director of the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), which provides healthcare and assistance to children and women worldwide.

'He brings with him a wealth of experience after a long and distinguished career with the United States government,' UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said in appointing Lake.

Lake, 70, was security adviser to president Bill Clinton in the 1990s and served on the board of the US Fund for UNICEF for nine years, including a stint as chair from 2004-2007. He was most recently a professor at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service in Washington.

Lake will take over UNICEF April 30, replacing Ann Veneman, a former US secretary of agriculture.

Ban paid tribute to Veneman for her 'immense dedication, energy and determination to improve the lives of children around the world. She leaves behind an organisation well-equipped for the enormous challenges ahead'.