The European Commission appointed, on 11 July, Rytis Martikonis (Lithuanian) to the vacant post of director-general of its Directorate-General for Translation. Martikonis will take up his duties formally on 1 September, although he is currently already acting director-general since February 2011. Martikonis’ previous career included the post of permanent representative of Lithuania to the EU.

Margarete Hofmann (German) has been appointed ‘director policy’ (Directorate OLAF.D). This decision will take effect on 16 July. Hofmann, a lawyer, is currently head of unit ‘Inter-Institutional and External Relations’, Directorate D – Policy of OLAF. Prior to this, she was a member of the cabinet of Budget Commissioner Michaele Schreyer. Before joining the Commission, Hofmann worked for the German Federal Ministry of Justice.

Gábor Zupko (Hungarian) has been appointed ‘director Resources’ (Directorate COMM.D) in the Communication Directorate-General. This decision will take effect on 1 September. Zupko is currently director of the Office for Infrastructure and Logistics (OIB) in Brussels. Prior to this, Zupko was ambassador of Hungary to Finland as well as holding various other government posts.