European news in brief

EPSILON AND FORUM MERGE TEAMS: Epsilon Events and Forum Europe have merged their conference service operations, creating what they claim is the largest EU affairs-dedicated events management outfit in Brussels. James Wilmott and Dan Craft are directors, with Geert Cami and Giles Merritt in advisory roles. Clients include Volvo and ETNO.

NICHOLAS BURNS TO CHAIR EDELMAN PA BOARD: Veteran US diplomat Nicholas Burns has been appointed chairman of a new global public affairs advisory board at Edelman. Until his retirement in February, Burns was US Under-Secretary of State for Political Affairs. An ex-permanent representative to NATO and US ambassador to Greece, Burns is also currently professor of the Practice of Public Diplomacy and International Politics at Harvard Kennedy School.

SCIENCE FEDERATION HUNTS COMMS CHIEF: The European Science Foundation (ESF) is on the hunt for a head of comms in Strasbourg. Former postholder Claus Nowotny has joined Sida, the Swedish International Development Co-operation Agency, as director of comms.

E-COMMERCE ASSOCIATION FILLS ROLE: The trade association representing e-commerce and mail-order retailers, EMOTA, has recruited Rebekka De Nie as European affairs manager. De Nie joined from PRM European Lobbyists and is working with secretary-general Susanne Czech at EMOTA’s two-strong Brussels secretariat.

SEMI EUROPE HANDS NEW ROLE TO LEE: SEMI Europe – the European office of the global semiconductor equipment and materials industry association – has appointed Carlos Lee as senior manager in Brussels. Lee moves from a member-relations role after the exit of former senior director of public policy, Pierre Lucas, to join Kellen Europe (PAN, Nov 2007).

4th November 2008 by Ian Hall