2 January 2019
Stephen Rowan, Nellie Simon and Christoph Ernst have taken up their posts as vice-presidents at the European Patent Office (EPO). They were elected by the Administrative Council of the European Patent Organisation, the supervisory body of the Office, in October 2018 for a five-year term.
Stephen Rowan, Vice-President Directorate-General Patent Granting Process
Mr Rowan joins the EPO from the UK Intellectual Property Office, where he most recently served as Director of Patents, Trade Marks, Designs and Tribunals. He has extensive experience in intellectual property, working across all IP rights. Mr Rowan has served as Head of the UK Delegation at several World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) diplomatic conferences, and was Head of the UK Delegation at the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO).
Nellie Simon, Vice-President Directorate-General Corporate Services
Ms Simon was previously Head of Cabinet and Acting Director of the Academy at the EUIPO. From 2012 to 2018 she was the Director of EUIPO's Digital Transformation Department. She has a Master's in Computer Sciences from the Technische Universität in Vienna and an MBA from the London Business School. Having worked for Austrian technology start-ups and German and British companies in the finance and automotive sectors, she has significant experience of management consultancy in strategy, organisational development, innovation and technology.
Christoph Ernst, Vice-President Directorate-General Legal/International Affairs
Before taking this new post, Mr Ernst was head of directorate at the German Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection, and served as Chairman of the Administrative Council of the European Patent Organisation from October 2017 until December 2018. He is experienced in economic, commercial and tax law, and also has extensive knowledge of intellectual property. Mr Ernst has represented Germany in the Administrative Council of the EPO and other IP organisations, including the EUIPO and the WIPO.
