Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Alexander Vershbow has been appointed NATO's Deputy Secretary General, the organization's press service said on Wednesday.
Vershbow replaced Claudio Bisogniero from Italy, who held the post since October 2007.
Vershbow was the U.S. NATO ambassador in Brussels in 1998-2001.
This is the first time an American has been appointed a deputy Secretary General in NATO. The positions of the Secretary General and his deputies are traditionally given to Europeans.
