Who was appointed as the Secretary General of the United Nations in January 2017?

Introduction / Context:
This question tests knowledge of major global institutions and their leadership, specifically the United Nations. The Secretary General is the chief administrative officer of the UN and a prominent international figure. Knowing who assumed this role in January 2017 is a frequent current affairs and general knowledge requirement for many competitive examinations.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The role under discussion is the Secretary General of the United Nations.
• The time reference is January 2017, when a new Secretary General assumed office.
• The options list four individuals who all served as United Nations Secretary Generals at different times.

Concept / Approach:
The United Nations Secretary General is appointed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council. Ban Ki Moon of South Korea served two terms from January 2007 to December 2016. His successor from January 2017 is Antonio Guterres of Portugal, who previously served as Prime Minister of Portugal and as UN High Commissioner for Refugees. Kofi Annan and Boutros Boutros Ghali were earlier Secretaries General in the late twentieth and early twenty first century. Matching the periods of service with the date given in the question leads to the correct answer.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
An alternative check is to remember the chronological order of these leaders: Boutros Boutros Ghali, then Kofi Annan, then Ban Ki Moon, and finally Antonio Guterres. Since the question mentions January 2017, the only possible answer after Ban Ki Moon is Antonio Guterres. This sequence helps avoid confusion when similar names are listed together.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Ban Ki-Moon: He completed his tenure in December 2016 and was not newly appointed in January 2017.

Kofi Annan: He served as Secretary General from 1997 to 2006, so he is from an earlier period.

Boutros-Boutros Ghali: He served from 1992 to 1996 and therefore does not match the date in the question.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners often remember the names but not the precise order or years of service. This can lead to confusion between Ban Ki Moon and Antonio Guterres. Another mistake is to focus only on familiarity; names like Kofi Annan may feel more familiar, but exam questions depend on exact timelines. Keeping a simple mental list of Secretaries General in chronological order is very helpful for such questions.

Final Answer:
The person appointed as Secretary General of the United Nations in January 2017 is Antonio Guterres.