Ivo Banek is taking on his new role from 1 September, with the ambition to bring fresh momentum to EUROCITIES’ communications.

A journalist by origin, Ivo Banek has more than 25 years of professional experience in communications. He previously worked as political spokesperson in the city parliament of Hamburg and as communications director for the Swedish state-owned energy company Vattenfall. In recent years, he has been a consultant, supporting organisations in their dialogue with the public and digital outreach.

Anna Lisa Boni, EUROCITIES’ secretary general, commented: “Ivo brings broad expertise and competence that will help us to take EUROCITIES’ communications to the next level. In line with our members’ expectations, we want to improve the exchange within our network and lift our ability to communicate the impact of our work to the EU, our cities and other key urban stakeholders. I am glad Ivo will lead our communications on this journey and very much look forward to working with him.”

Speaking prior to taking up his new role, Ivo Banek said: “EUROCITIES is an exciting place to work, at the very heart of the European project. I am eager to learn more about the challenges of European cities and to become both the ear and the voice for cities in Europe. To begin with, I am looking forward to meeting my new colleagues and our members to hear what they need most.”

Ivo Banek holds a master’s degree in communications management and a diploma in social sciences. He is an Austrian citizen, though he has spent his professional life in Hamburg, Stockholm, Thessaloniki and now Brussels. He is married with three grownup children. Ivo speaks German, English and Swedish.

Nicola Vatthauer will be taking on the role of director for events, planning and statutory affairs from 1 September. She will lead on the organisation of EUROCITIES’ events and work on the exciting challenge of revising EUROCITIES’ statutes to be fit for the future.