18/12/2015 (Agence Europe) - Five new managers appointed. Czech national Edita Hrda was appointed as Managing Director Americas for the European External Action Service (EEAS) on Friday 18 December. Belgian national Koen Vervaeke, currently Director for Horn of Africa, East & Southern Africa and Indian Ocean in the European External Action Service and Senior EU Coordinator for the Great Lakes region has been appointed as Managing Director Africa. Lotte Knudsen, currently Director for Human Development and Migration in DG International Cooperation and Development in the European Commission has been appointed as Managing Director Human Rights, Global and Multilateral Issues for the EEAS. Germany's Gunnar Wiegand has been appointed as Managing Director Asia and Pacific for the EEAS. He is currently Director for Russia, Eastern Partnership, Central Asia, Regional Cooperation and OSCE in the EEAS. Finally, Italy's Gianmarco Di Vita, who is currently Director Resources in the Secretariat General of the European Commission, has been appointed to the post of Director General for Budget and Administration. (CG)