Former Dutch Minister Maria van der Hoeven named next Executive Director of the IEA -- <em>Term starts in September 2011</em>

At a meeting today in Paris, the Governing Board of the International Energy Agency (IEA) confirmed the selection of Mrs. Maria van der Hoeven, a Dutch citizen, as the next Executive Director of the Agency. She will succeed Mr. Nobuo Tanaka of Japan who will serve until 31 August 2011, completing four years of service.

Mrs. van der Hoeven will bring a wealth of political and policy-making experience to her new position. She served as Minister of Economic Affairs of the Netherlands from February 2007 until October 2010. In that role, energy policy was one of her most important responsibilities, and she played an active role in the international arena, including chairing the Ministerial Level Meeting of the IEA Governing Board in October 2009. From 2002 to 2007, she was Minister of Education, Culture and Science. During both of her stints as Minister, she presided as Deputy Chair of the Netherlands Innovation Platform.

Mrs. van der Hoeven was an elected member of the Netherlands House of Representatives of the States-General from 1991-2002. During this time, she held various positions including Parliamentary secretary for the CDA Party, Deputy Speaker of the House and Chair of the Standing Committee of the House on Education, Culture and Science. Prior to entering politics, she was Director of the Technology Center in Limburg, Netherlands, after starting her career in teaching.

Mrs. van der Hoeven is fluent in English and also speaks French and German.