Wouter Gekiere has been appointed head of the EBU’s Brussels office, which represents the interests of over 100 public service media organisations to the European Institutions.
Wouter is stepping up from his position as the EBU’s head of EU regulatory policy, a post he held since 2018. He succeeds Nicola Frank who has moved to a new position within the EBU.
With the EBU’s Legal and Policy Team since 2009, Wouter has been working for a regulatory framework to help EBU members fulfil their public service remit and contribute to the democratic, social and cultural needs of society. Prior to the EBU, he was a legal advisor at the European Parliament and has worked as a researcher at both the Institute for Information Law, Amsterdam, and the Faculty of Law of KU Leuven.
Commenting on the appointment, Richard Burnley, legal and policy director, EBU, said: “With EU policies on the horizon that are game-changing for public service media, Wouter’s proven track record makes him the right person to lead EBU’s advocacy in Brussels. He has a deep knowledge of EU policy and politics and is recognised across EBU staff and membership as a highly motivated team player and valued leader”.
Noel Curran, DG of the EBU, added: “If we are to protect our proud tradition of a strong, valuable, free and independent media, we need EU policies that are fit for the future. This is even more important as we see just how vital Public Service Media is in a crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic. I’m delighted to welcome Wouter to his new role. He has impressed us all enormously with his expertise on policy, his ability to unite the membership across Europe and most of all his passion for public service media and all it stands for”.
