The position was created after the 1999 CHOGM , with Thabo Mbeki becoming the first Chair-in-Office . However , Mbeki did very little to develop the position , leaving it virtually vacant until the next CHOGM , in 2002 , when the troika was created . Even after John Howard became Chair , the troika 's first meeting was in London , in the presence of the Commonwealth Secretary-General , whose office drafted the troika 's statement : leaving little role for the troika itself , but potentially increasing the power of the Secretary-General . The third Chair , Olusegun Obasanjo , did more to invigorate the role of the position after taking over in 2003
1999 CHOGM
Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 1999
Commonwealth Chair-in-Office