NATO decided Friday to appoint Jens Stoltenberg as Secretary General of NATO and Chairman of the North Atlantic Council, in a succession of Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

Stoltenberg will assume his duties as general secretary on 1 October 2014 when NATO chief Rasmussen this is to step down after five years and two months at the helm of the Alliance, said a NATO statement.

“Congratulations to Jens Stoltenberg warm his appointment as my successor,” Rasmussen said in a Twitter message, “Ukraine and Russia crisis shows need for continued strong leadership and committed to NATO.”

Rasmussen said, “I met Jens Stoltenberg many years and I know that is the right man to build the power and success record NATO after NATO summit in Britain.”