02/06/2004 (Agence Europe) - Claude Chêne, 57, a European civil servant of French nationality, was appointed by the Commission on Wednesday to the post of Director General for Personnel and Administration. The new Director General's principal task will be to supervise the full implementation of the reform following the introduction of the new staff regulations. He will also work together with the other services of the Commission to ensure the closest possible integration of the various planks of the reform (planning and programming, financial management, etc). This appointment takes effect as of 1 October 2004. Mr Chêne has previously served as director within the DGs Transport and Personnel and Administration. From 1999 to 2002, he managed the Task Force for the administrative reform, before being made deputy Director General for State aid.