On 13 October 2017, the Executive Board of UNESCO nominated the former French Minister of Culture, Audrey Azoulay to become the new Director General of the Organization.

30 of the 58 members of the Board voted for Audrey Azoulay's candidacy, who left behind her Qatari rival by 2 votes, leader in previous rounds of elections.

Exposing her priorities Azoulay stated that building confidence in the institution is important not only between member states, but also in the world.

 Audrey Azoulay will take up her functions on November 15, if her nomination is endorsed by the General Conference of UNESCO, on November 10. The former French Minister of Culture will replace the Bulgarian Irina Bokova, who has been the Director General of the Organization since 2009.

Audrey Azoulay will be the second French representative in the history of UNESCO to occupy the position, after René Maheu, Director General of the Organization in the 1950s.