University alumnus becomes top official in Europe

Alexander Italianer, who completed his university education Econometrics and received his PhD within the Faculty of Economics and Business at the University of Groningen, has become the new Secretary General of the European Commission on September 1^st, succeeding Catherine Day. This leaves him as the head of the 30,000 European officials.

Director-General Maarten Verwey is also an alumnus of the University. Verwey became Director-General in the field of Structural Reform Support Service on July 1^st.

Curriculum Vitae

Alexander Italianer (1956) completed his degree in econometrics in 1980 and received his PhD in economics at the University in 1986. In 1985 he became a civil servant at the European Commission. Before his appointment as Secretary General he managed the Directorate-General for Competition, which supervises the prevention of unfair competition within the EU.
Maarten Verwey (1970) completed his Master’s Degree in Economics (macro economics and finance) at the University of Groningen in 1994.

More information

Interview met Italianer in Trouw