First Estonian appointed director-general of European Commission
The EC has appointed Alexander Italianer as new Secretary-General and reshuffle its senior management team, it was announced on Wednesday. As part of the move, Henrik Hololei is to become a director-general, a first Estonian ever to do so.
EC's reshuffle involves two types of moves among the current senior management team of 33 Directors-General, 36 Deputy Directors-General and 4 Hors Classe Advisers.
Consequently, Hololei, 45, has been promoted to the post of director-general. From October 1, he will be in charge of Directorate General for Mobility and Transport. Hololei will take over from the current director-general João Aguiar Machado.
Hololei previously served as the deputy director-general of the Directorate-General for Enlargement, and as deputy secretary-general in the Secretariat General. Before that he also worked as cabinet chief for Estonian EC commissioner Siim Kallas.
In 2014, a NGO European Movement Estonia named Hololei the European of the Year.
Editor: M. Oll