Afghanistan's new president, Ashraf Ghani, is a former World Bank official and finance minister who favours talks with the Taliban rebels to help restore security in his troubled country.
Ghani, 65, was officially proclaimed the winner of a disputed runoff election in June after the results were delayed by several months.
His rival, former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah, is to assume the newly created post of chief executive.
"Peace requires coming to terms with dispute," Ghani said.
Ghani campaigned on a promise to improve Afghanistan's financial systems and its health and education services, as well as ensure an administration free of corruption.
He said he would sign a long-awaited security pact with the United States soon.
Born in Kabul, Ghani became an academic who spent his early years in Logar province, south-east of the capital.
He worked for the World Bank before joining Karzai's government as finance minister in 2002.
Much of his political support comes from his tribal links.
He is a Pashtun, the ethnic group that makes up about 42 per cent of the population and has historically provided most of the country's leaders.
He also has a strong following among the educated urban population and youth, who see him as a worldly intellectual, and hope that he has the experience to bring the country out of poverty.
