Brussels, 16/07/2003 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has appointed Lars-Hendrik Röller as Chief Competition Economist, a newly-created post in the Directorate-General for Competition, as part of its reorganisation. "The appointment of a Chief Economist forms an integral part of my commitment to strengthen further the economic underpinnings of our competition analysis (...) Professor Röller's outstanding academic record and his experience in the field will provide invaluable support to the Commissino in the preparation of its decisions in complex cases in the merger field, but also in anti-trust and state aid investigations", said Mario Monti. Mr Röller will take up his functions on 1 September for a period of three years, non-renewable. He will report directly to the Director General, Mr Philip Lowe, and will head up a team of some ten specialist economists.