Beasley will replace another American, Etharin Cousin, who has been the WFP executive director since 2012. Washington was the top contributor to WFP in 2016 with $2 billion, a third of the agency's budget.

Trump has proposed an unspecified cut in funding for the United Nations and its agencies. US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, like Beasley, is also a former governor of South Carolina.

"Mr. Beasley has a wealth of experience that would greatly benefit WFP, the United Nations and the international community at large," Guterres wrote in a letter, seen by Reuters, notifying the WFP executive board of the appointment.

Guterres said Beasley, who served as South Carolina governor from 1995 to 1999, was among 23 applications/nominations for the job. The WFP executive board noted his appointment in a letter to Guterres on Tuesday.