New senior appointments at the EUIPO
The European Union Intellectual Property Office has announced two significant appointments – a new President of the Boards of Appeal and Deputy Executive Director.
Sven Stürmann has been appointed as the new President of the Boards of Appeal, while Edyta Demby-Siwek takes on the role of Deputy Executive Director.
Sven Stürmann brings a wealth of experience to his new role, having been with the EUIPO since 2004. His career has spanned various positions, from Lawyer Linguist to Chairperson of the 2nd Board of Appeal. Stürmann played a pivotal role in establishing the EUIPO's Mediation Service.
The Boards of Appeal, which Stürmann will now lead, operate independently within the EUIPO's institutional framework. They play a crucial role in adjudicating disputes related to EU trade marks and Community designs, providing essential legal clarity for stakeholders and shaping the landscape of European IP law.
Edyta Demby-Siwek, the newly appointed Deputy Executive Director, brings over two decades of IP expertise to the EUIPO. Since 2019, she has served as the President of the Polish Patent Office, where she led significant legislative reforms in trade mark protection and spearheaded Poland's IP rights initiatives. Under her leadership, the Polish office modernised its procedures, aligning them with EU standards and enhancing the efficiency of IP protection.
Demby-Siwek's international experience is extensive, having been a member of numerous European and global IP working groups, including those at the European Council, the European Commission, World Intellectual Property Organisation, and the EUIPO itself.
In her new role, Demby-Siwek will work alongside Andrea Di Carlo, who also serves as Deputy Executive Director, under the leadership of Executive Director João Negrão, who started in October 2023.
João Negrão said: "I am thrilled to welcome both Mr. Stürmann and Ms. Demby-Siwek into their new leadership roles. Mr. Stürmann's longstanding contributions to mediation and legal processes at the EUIPO have already made a significant impact, and his leadership of the Boards of Appeal will further enhance the quality and consistency of our decisions. Ms. Demby-Siwek's extensive experience and proven success in modernising the Polish intellectual property system will bring a fresh perspective to our work. I am confident that together, they will drive innovation and excellence in intellectual property protection across Europe."