The International Labor Organization has elected international labor activist Guy Ryder as its tenth director-general.

Ryder defeated eight rivals in a secret vote held at the organization's headquarters in Geneva.

Born in Liverpool, Britain, he was educated at the University of Liverpool and the University of Cambridge.

Ryder started his career as a labor activist at the international department of the Trade Union Congress in London. He worked as the general secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation from 2006 to 2010.

Ryder is the first person to be elected as the ILO director-general without any career experiences as a government employee and his government’s official support.