EFSA executive director stands down
The executive director of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Catherine Geslain-Lanéelle, announced her decision to resign from her role this month.
Geslain-Lanéelle, who had held the role since 2006, will leave to take up the position of director general for agricultural, agri-food and territorial policies in the French Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry on September 1, 2013.
Sue Davies, chair of EFSA’s management board, said: “The management board’s priority is now to ensure business continuity and to limit any disruption for EFSA’s staff, experts and outputs … in the meantime, the European Commission will initiate the process for recruitment of a new permanent executive director.”
Bernhard Url, who is responsible for EFSA’s Risk Assessment and Scientific Assistance Directorate, will lead the organisation until an interim executive director is appointed at its October meeting.
Geslain-Lanéelle expressed her gratitude to the members of the European Parliament and the directors of EFSA for their support and availability over the past seven years.