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Member States Approve Appointment of Top Management Team

Geneva, June 20, 2006
Press Releases PR/2006/449

A key decision-making body of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) approved on Tuesday, June 20, 2006 proposals by the Director General, Dr. Kamil Idris, for a new senior management team (https://www.wipo.int/edocs/mdocs/govbody/en/wo_cc_54/wo_cc_54_2-main1.doc), consisting of four Deputy Directors General (DDG) and three Assistant Directors General (ADG). With the exception of one DDG appointment, these posts have been filled from within the Organization to allow for continuity in the management structure.

The Coordination Committee expressed consensus support for the new team consisting of the following Deputy Directors General: Mr. Philippe Petit (France) (reappointed), Mr. Francis Gurry (Australia) (reappointed), Mr. Narendra Kumar Sabharwal (India) and Mr. Michael Keplinger (United States of America). The Committee also approved the appointments of the following Assistant Directors General: Mr. Ernesto Rubio (Uruguay) (reappointed), Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama (Nigeria), and Mrs. Binying Wang (China). The appointments of the DDGs and ADGs are effective from December 1, 2006, to November 30, 2009.

In endorsing the Director General's proposals, members of the Committee, which is composed of 82 (https://www.wipo.int/treaties/en/ShowResults.jsp?country_id=ALL&search_what=B&bo_id=3) of WIPO's 183 member states, noted that all candidates were exceptionally well-qualified for the proposed positions. In addition, the Director General and the Coordination Committee paid tribute to the outgoing DDGs, Mrs. Rita Hayes (United States of America) and Mr. Geoffrey Yu (Singapore).

"I wish to use this occasion to pay special tribute to Rita Hayes. Since 2001, Mrs. Hayes has served this Organization with graciousness, loyalty and dedication. Her approach has always been one of dialogue with all of our member states, and her commitment to excellence is remarkable. We applaud her many contributions to the work of WIPO and we commend her for her exemplary work, in particular in the field of copyright and related rights," said Dr. Idris.

The Director General further paid tribute to Mr. Yu saying "Mr. Yu has been with this Organization since 1981 during which time he has assumed his duties with much diligence, dedication and finesse. He has invested much time and care in ensuring that the activities of this Organization are carried out with excellence and with maximum benefit for our member states. We thank him for his many contributions to the work of WIPO and also commend him for his outstanding career as an international civil servant."

Regarding the need to respect equitable geographical distribution in relation to recruitment at WIPO, a matter referred to by several delegations, the Director General said he shared this concern as well as that of respecting gender balance. Dr. Idris said much progress has been made in this regard since 1997. He noted that the number of member states represented in the staff of WIPO jumped from 68 in December 1997 to 94 in May 2006, representing an increase of 28%. Dr. Idris, who took over leadership of the Organization in November 1997, also noted that the number of female staff in the professional and higher categories was 63 out of 209 (30%) in December 1997, compared to 184 out of 433 (42%) in May 2006, representing an increase of 12%.

Background (full curriculum vitae available in document https://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/details.jsp?meeting_id=9923)

Mr. Petit joined WIPO in December 2001 following a career in the French foreign service. Before joining WIPO he served as France's Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva. Prior to that he was his country's envoy to Sweden, India, and Mauritius. Mr. Petit has also held several senior positions within the French government, including that of Special Assistant to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diplomatic Adviser to the Prime Minister. Mr. Petit will continue to head the General Affairs and Administration Sector.

Mr. Gurry is currently DDG responsible for WIPO's activities in the area of patents (including patent policy questions and the administration of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)), and the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center. Mr. Gurry also oversees the work of WIPO relating to traditional knowledge, folklore and access to genetic resources. Prior to joining WIPO in 1985, he practiced as an attorney in Melbourne and Sydney and taught law at the University of Melbourne. Mr. Gurry will continue to head the PCT and Patents, Arbitration and Mediation Center and Global Intellectual Property Issues Sector.

Mr. Sabharwal came to WIPO from a career in the Indian Administrative Service, which he entered in 1965. Mr. Sabharwal joined WIPO in 1991 to head WIPO's cooperation for development activities for the Asia and Pacific region. He is currently directing WIPO's Coordination Office for External Relations. As DDG, Mr. Sabharwal will head up WIPO's Economic Development Sector.

Mr. Michael Keplinger comes to WIPO from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) where he has been a Senior Level Attorney since 1994 leading a team of copyright attorneys responsible for analyzing and formulating recommendations for the United States Administration on copyright policies and implementation of those policies. Before joining USPTO, Mr. Keplinger held various positions at the United States Copyright Office. At WIPO, Mr. Keplinger will oversee the Copyright and Related Rights Sector.

Mr. Rubio joined WIPO in 1983 and until 2002 was closely involved in WIPO's cooperation for development program, having headed the regional bureau for Latin American and Caribbean countries from 1991 to 2002. In May 2002, Mr. Rubio was appointed as Senior Director of the Trademarks, Industrial Designs and Geographical Indications Department and promoted to the rank of ADG in 2003. Mr. Rubio will continue to head WIPO's Sector of Trademarks, Industrial Designs and Geographical Indications.

Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama joined WIPO in 1985 working on the Organization's cooperation for development activities for Africa and Western Asia. He currently oversees WIPOs Cooperation for Development Bureau for Africa. Before joining WIPO, Mr. Onyeama practiced law as a solicitor and advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. As ADG, Mr. Onyeama will be responsible for WIPO's Coordination Office for External Relations and Industry Relations.

Ms. Wang Binying joined WIPO in 1992 as a Senior Program Officer in the Bureau for Development Cooperation for Asia and the Pacific and has since held various senior positions including in the Office of the Director General, Administrative Support Services and General Assembly Affairs. Prior to joining WIPO, Ms. Wang held a number of posts in the Ministry of Communication and Transportation of China, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce (SAIC), and headed the China Trademark Service, an institution concerned with trademark issues under the SAIC. As ADG, she will direct the Office of Administrative Support Services, Security Matters and General Assembly Affairs.

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