Dr. Hartwig Hamm, managing director of the Association of Public Bausparkassen (LBS) in Germany and second vice-president of the European Federation of Building Societies (EFBS), has been appointed secretary general of the International Union for Housing Finance (IUHF) as of 1 November 2011. In addition, it was decided by the responsible board of the International Union that at the same time the European Federation of Building Societies (EFBS) will take over the activities of the IUHF Secretariat in Brussels. The IUHF offers housing finance institutions and housing finance experts worldwide a platform for dialogue and the opportunity to exchange experiences. www.efbs.org