Former civil aviation secretary Syed Nasim Ahmad Zaidi was Tuesday appointed an election commissioner by President Pranab Mukherjee.

“The president has appointed Syed Nasim Ahmad Zaidi as the election commissioner with effect from the date he assumes the office,” a statement issued here said.

Zaidi, a 1976 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Uttar Pradesh Cadre, retired as the civil aviation secretary July 31. He will be India’s election commissioner till 2017.

He had earlier worked as Director General of Civil Aviation and was India’s representative in the International Civil Aviation Organisation.

He has also held the post of joint secretary in the civil aviation ministry.
The vacancy in the three-member poll panel was caused after chief election commissioner (CEC) S.Y. Quraishi retired June 10 and V.S. Sampath took charge as CEC.
H.S. Brahma is the other election commissioner.