Updated

Mexico announced it is replacing the country's ambassador in Washington, who had been in the post for less than a year.

Geronimo Gutierrez Fernandez, the current head of the North American Development Bank in San Antonio, Texas, was appointed in place of Carlos Manuel Sada Solana, who will become undersecretary for North America.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry announced the appointment Friday in a statement.

While he is now in the financial sector, Gutiérrez, a Harvard graduate, has a significant history in Mexican diplomacy. He served as undersecretary for North America between 2003 and 2006, during Vicente Fox’s administration; and was Undersecretary for Latin America and the Caribbean and Undersecretary of Government in the Ministry of the Interior during Felipe Calderón’s six years in office.

The North American Development Bank, where Gutierrez has been managing director since 2010, offers financing to projects aimed at improving environmental and living conditions in communities along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Gutierrez's appointment requires ratification by the Mexican senate.

The AP contributed to this report.