Following an open competition, the European Agency for Safety's board has selected Dr Jukka Takala as its new leader
Following an open competition, the Agency's board, meeting in Luxembourg on Wednesday 3 May 2006, selected Dr Takala from a short-list of candidates drawn up by the European Commission.
Takala is currently Director of the International Labour Organization's Programme on Safety and Health at Work and the Environment (SafeWork) and he will succeed Hans-Horst Konkolewsky whose term of office as Agency director ends in September 2006.
Commenting on the appointment, Bertil Remaeus, chair of the Agency's governing board said: "Jukka Takala was an outstanding candidate in a strong field of applicants and I am delighted that the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work will now be able to benefit from his proven leadership abilities and his firm commitment to guaranteeing safe and healthy work for all".
"Under the leadership of Hans-Horst Konkolewsky, the Agency has established itself as one of the world's principal providers of reliable and accessible occupational and safety health information (OSH)".
"But, in the field of workplace safety and health much remains to be done and I am confident that, under Takala's leadership, the Agency will continue to play its full part in promoting an OSH preventive culture across Europe." Current director Hans-Horst Konkolewsky, said: "I will have no hesitation in handing over the running of the Agency to such an experienced safety and health expert and highly suitable director as Jukka Takala".
"Over the coming months, I look forward to working closely with Jukka to ensure a smooth transfer of responsibilities." Takala will take up his post at the Agency's headquarters in Bilbao, Spain in the autumn.
He commented: "I am delighted that the governing board has nominated me as the next director of the Agency".
"I consider that the Agency has an important role to play in promoting higher levels of workplace safety and health across the European Union".
"And I look forward to working with colleagues in Bilbao as well as in the European institutions, social partner organisations and member states to support the future Community strategy for reaching this goal."
