HERA Director-General Pierre Delsaux retires

HERA’s Director-General, Mr Pierre Delsaux, announces his retirement effective this week on 30 September, having already passed the normal age of retirement. Pierre is one of the “founding fathers” of HERA and has been instrumental in its development and growth since its creation in September 2021. 
 
Pierre Delsaux, a Belgian national, has had a long career at the European Commission since 1991, which included senior management positions in the Directorates-General for Competition, Internal Market, Industry, Defence and Space, and finally Public Health. 
 
Pierre used this rich experience to lead HERA in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic that was raging across the world, and also reinforce and develop preparedness for future health threats. His chairmanship of the Vaccines Steering Board and of the HERA Board, the governance body of HERA, was instrumental in the Member States’ appreciation of the added value of HERA. 
 
Before the appointment of the new Director-General, Laurent Muschel, the deputy Head of HERA will be acting ad interim. 
 
Stella Kyriakides, EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, said: “Director-General Pierre Delsaux has been instrumental in the development of HERA, a significant piece of the jigsaw that brought HERA from concept to creation to now a fully operational pillar of the European Health Union. Upon his retirement, I thank Pierre warmly for his vital contribution, compassion for the cause, and the care he took in leading HERA on becoming a key player in Europe’s health security architecture.”