The chief economist of the International Energy Agency (IEA) has been confirmed as the next head of the organisation.

Fatih Birol applied to be the executive director of the IEA and will replace Maria van der Hoeven when she completes her four-year term at the end of August.

Mr Birol has served as chief economist at the IEA for the last nine years of his 20-year tenure at the Paris-based organisation.

He worked for OPEC before joining the IEA in 1995 and has been responsible for the organisation’s flagship ‘World Energy Outlook’ publication.

The IEA said the appointment marks “one of the rare occasions” the head of the agency has been selected from within its ranks.