Rafael Mariano Grossi of Argentina received the majority support required in an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors ballot on Tuesday to be appointed the agency's new director general. 

In a closed session, Grossi received the support of 24 members of the 35-nation board. Romania's Cornel Feruta received 10 votes. A further board meeting open to all IAEA member states will be held on Wednesday to appoint Grossi, according to the IAEA website.

The Board of Governors' decision will be submitted for approval to the IAEA General Conference, which consists of representatives of all 171 member states.

The new director general, appointed for a term of four years, will be the IAEA's sixth head since it was founded in 1957. The board envisages that Grossi will assume office no later than January 1, 2020, the IAEA said. 

The IAEA is an autonomous international organization within the United Nations (UN) system. It is the world's center for cooperation in the nuclear field and seeks to promote the safe, secure and peaceful use of nuclear technologies.

(Cover: File photo of Rafael Mariano Grossi via AP)