The International Energy Agency’s governing board confirmed the appointment of Fatih Birol as the agency’s next executive director. Birol succeeds Maria van der Hoeven, who will complete her 4-year term on Aug. 31.

“This marks one of the rare occasions that the head of an international organization has been selected from within its ranks,” IEA said.

Birol joined IEA in 1995 and has risen to now hold the positions of chief economist and director of global energy economics. In this role, he oversees IEA’s flagship World Energy Outlook publication. He also is the founder and chair of IEA’s Energy Business Council, which provides a forum to enhance cooperation between the energy industry and energy policy makers.

Earlier in his career, Birol served in the Secretariat of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries in Vienna.

Source: Oil & Gas Journal