Brussels, 28/10/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 28 October 2009, the European Commission decided to appoint Jean-Claude Thébault as the new Deputy Secretary-General of the European Commission, answering to Secretary General Catherine Day and taking responsibility for coordinating and managing several departments at the General Secretariat. Jean-Claude Thébault is a fifty-nine year old Frenchman, who is currently Deputy Head of Cabinet for the Commission President, José Manuel Barroso. He started working in Barroso's cabinet in November 2004 as a leading advisor. During his long career at the European Commission, he has held several management posts, including Deputy Head of Cabinet to Commissioner Yves Thibault de Silguy (1995-1998). Jean-Claude Thébault will be taking up his new position on 1 November 2009.
Johannes Laitenberger, who until now managed the spokesperson's department, is becoming the new Head of Cabinet for Barroso, taking over from João Vale de Almeida, who has already been appointed Director General for External Relations. Pia Ahrenkilde Hansen is taking over as the head of the spokespersons' department.
On the same day, Portuguese national Jan Truszczyñski (aged 59) was appointed as Director General of DG Education and Culture at the European Commission. This is the first time that someone with the nationality of one of the EU12 Member States has been appointed as a Director General. Truszczyñski will be responsible for the DG and for work in the field of education, training, culture, youth, citizenship, multilingualism and sport. The DG had a budget of €1,406 million in 2009. Jan Truszczyñski is currently Deputy Director-General at the same DG. He will take up his new position on 1 May 2010. (L.C. trans fl)