The United Nations Security Council on Wednesday chose Portugal’s Antonio Guterres for the next U.N. secretary-general by unanimous vote.

He’s not a quiet voice. He’s a forceful outspoken leader on the global stage and that’s something the U.N. needs. – Peter Yeo, president of Better World Campaign.

The Security Council will ratify its decision Thursday and then refer it to the 193-member U.N. General Assembly for final approval within days.

Guterres served as the U.N.’s High Commissioner for Refugees from 2005 to 2015, and as prime minister of Portugal from 1995 to 2002.