Dominique MAILLARD, French Energy Official, is named as Chairman of IEA Governing Board

Dominique Maillard, director general of energy and raw materials at the French Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industry, was elected today as chairman of the Governing Board of the Paris-based International Energy Agency. Mr. Maillard’s term runs till the end of this year and can be continued at the pleasure of the board. He replaces Arne Walther, of Norway, who had served since September 2000.

“Mr. Maillard is a first-rate energy expert and an outstanding administrator,” said Robert Priddle, the Agency’s Executive Director. “He is also an old friend of the IEA, having represented France on the Governing Board since 1998.”

Mr. Maillard, who is 52, holds degrees from two of France’s prestigious “grandes écoles,” the École polytechnique and the École de mines. Since 1974, he has held a variety of energy-related posts in government and private industry. He has served on the boards of the state-owned utilities Électricité de France, Gaz de France and Charbonnages de France and of Areva (formerly Framatome), the French nuclear energy organisation. He holds the rank of “chevalier” in the Legion of Honour.

The IEA was founded in 1974, in the wake of the first oil shock, as the organisation of oil consuming countries. Its core mission is to work for stable energy markets and to respond in times of crisis in those markets. It also maintains authoritative energy statistics, studies short- and medium-term market developments, promotes energy efficiency and is engaged in efforts to preserve the environment, especially the world’s climate.

The Governing Board, made up of high officials from the IEA’s 26 Member states, is the body that manages the IEA and sets its policy. It meets in Paris five or six times a year. It meets at ministerial level approximately every other year.