FAO has named agricultural economist and senior manager Raimund Jehle as its new Deputy Regional Representative for Europe and Central Asia and Representative to Moldova. A national of Germany, Jehle has served the Organization in progressively responsible positions since joining as a policy officer at headquarters in Rome in 1999, IPN reports.

According to a press release of FAO, in 2007 Raimund Jehle was appointed to oversee management of the field program in the Organization’s Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia, after an assignment under the Associate Professional Officer program. In 2013 he became head of the regional office’s field program management, resource mobilization and communication unit.

In parallel, Jehle served as Secretary of the European Regional Conference – a body that brings together representatives of the region’s 53 member countries and one member organization (the European Union) every two years to set priorities and guide the work of FAO in the region.

In 2015, Jehle assumed responsibility for the coordination of two major FAO initiatives in Europe and Central Asia: empowering smallholders and family farms, and improving agri-food trade and regional integration. Prior to joining FAO, he worked as a farmer for two years.

In the role of Deputy Regional Representative, Jehle succeeds Tony Alonzi who recently retired from the Organization. He will also serve as FAO Representative to Albania, Armenia and Georgia.