EFSA Press Release, 14 September 2005
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Management Board decided yesterday on the appointment of Dr. Herman Koëter as Acting Executive Director, effective from 26 November 2005 .
Dr. Herman Koëter, currently EFSA's Deputy Executive Director and Director of Science, will assume the function of Acting Executive Director from November 26. He will have responsibility for the day-to-day running of the Authority in the interim period until a successor to the current Executive Director of EFSA, Geoffrey Podger, has been found and takes up post.
Dr. Stuart Slorach, Chair of EFSA's Management Board said “I am delighted to announce that the Management Board has nominated Dr. Koëter as Acting Executive Director ensuring continued leadership of the Authority until the appointment of a new Executive Director.”
Arrangements for the selection of the successor of Mr. Podger began at the end of August, when the European Commission (EC) published a vacancy notice for the post of Executive Director of EFSA. Once expressions of interest have been received from candidates, the European Commission will compile a shortlist. The Management Board of EFSA will interview candidates from the shortlist and appoint the new Executive Director following a hearing in the European Parliament.
The Management Board also appointed Dr. Diane Benford, principal toxicologist of the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA), to the EFSA Panel dealing with Contaminants in the Food Chain. Dr Benford has acted as WHO advisor to the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives and is also Scientific Secretary to the UK Committee on Toxicology of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment.