The Chairman represents the PLO and the Palestinian people before the international community, including the United Nations.

Yasser Arafat was appointed leader of the PLO on 4 February 1969 at the meeting of the Palestinian National Council (PNC) in Cairo.

He continued to be PLO leader (sometimes called Chairman, sometimes President) for 35 years, until his death on 11 November 2004.

On 22 August 2015, Mahmoud Abbas announced his resignation as a member and Chairman of the PLO Executive Committee.

The Executive Committee members who announced their resignations were to continue to hold their positions until the PNC meets.