The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, chose the Portuguese Paula Pinho to lead the community executive's spokesperson service, a community source told Lusa.
Paula Pinho is currently director of Just Transition, Consumers, Efficiency and Innovation in the general directorate (DG) of Energy and started working at the European Commission in 2000.
The future main spokesperson for the new commission Von der Leyen was part of the cabinet of several commissioners and also worked in DG Commerce and DG Internal Market.
Before Paula Pinho, Johannes Laitenberger, of German nationality, but who lived in Portugal and is fluent in Portuguese, headed the spokesperson service in José Manuel Durão Barroso's first term (2004-2009).
The Portuguese João Vale de Almeida was number two in service between 1985 and 1987, when the community executive was led by Jacques Santer.
