Appointment of Francesco Mattina as the new Vice-President of the European Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO)

Following an open competition, the Council of the EU decided on 6 June 2017, on the basis of a proposal from the European Commission drawn up after obtaining the opinion of the Administration Council of the CPVO, to appoint Mr. Francesco MATTINA, as Vice-President of the CPVO for a period of five years. His term will start on a date that must be agreed upon between the President and the Administrative Council of the CPVO.

Francesco Mattina, of Italian nationality, is currently the Head of the Legal Unit of the CPVO. Before taking up his post at the CPVO in September 2013, Francesco Mattina worked as a lawyer for the EUIPO (the European Union Intellectual Property Office, another IP European Agency). He has a law degree and a Master degree in European Union Law and Intellectual Property Law. Before joining the public sector, Francesco Mattina has managed contentious disputes in all major areas of intellectual property.

In his current position as Head of the Legal Unit of the CPVO, Francesco Mattina provides legal advice to the President in relation to the Community plant variety rights system and as regards any other legal matters such as staff regulations, financial regulation, procurement, access to documents, and data protection. He also defends the CPVO’s position before the Board of Appeal and the EU Court of Justice. He has acquired a broad knowledge of intellectual property rights in general and more specifically on plant varieties during his past and current positions.

“Francesco has the appropriate skills and professional experience to manage the CPVO” says Martin Ekvad whose mandate as President of the CPVO was renewed in September 2016 for 5 years.