Brussels, 29/04/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 29 April, the European Commission announced its decision to appoint Irene Souka to the post of Director-General for personnel and administration (DG ADMIN). She will provide the overall strategic guidance and management of the directorate-general, under the authority of the commissioner for administrative affairs. She will take up her new duties on 1 May 2009.
Ms Irene Souka, a 55-year-old Greek citizen, has held various posts at the Commission since joining in 1980. Currently, she is the deputy director-general for personnel and administration, with responsibility for human resources management, including staff career development, rights and obligations under the staff regulations, well-being in the workplace, and equal opportunities and non-discrimination.
On the same day, the Commission decided that Daniel Jacob would replace her as the new deputy director-general of DG ADMIN (from 16 May 2009). Under the leadership of the director-general, he will be responsible for developing and implementing the Commission's strategy for managing its human resources, from recruitment to retirement and beyond. A 58-year-old Belgian citizen, Mr Daniel Jacob is currently the deputy director-general in charge of Community research programmes in DG Research. Between September 1999 and February 2003, he was the head of cabinet for Philippe Busquin, the commissioner for research. (L.C./transl.fl)