Official designation of new Secretary General
abr42013
![](https://cdn-img.newstory.nl/hcch/images/optimized/96bd2a6c-a1ca-4a8c-8da3-88eeed0664a2.png&w=400&v=1720524153)
After nearly 35 years of service at the Hague Conference on Private International Law and almost 17 years as Secretary General, Mr Hans van Loon will retire as Secretary General of the Organisation on 30 June 2013.
By decision of 13 March 2013, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands has appointed Mr Christophe Bernasconi, currently Deputy Secretary General of the Hague Conference, to the post of Secretary General, effective from 1 July 2013. Mr Bernasconi, born on 4 November 1964 in Basel (Switzerland) and a Swiss citizen, joined the Hague Conference in 1997 as Secretary, was appointed First Secretary in 2000 and then became Deputy Secretary General in 2011. A brief biography of Mr Bernasconi is available here.
By decision of 13 March 2013, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands has appointed Mr Christophe Bernasconi, currently Deputy Secretary General of the Hague Conference, to the post of Secretary General, effective from 1 July 2013. Mr Bernasconi, born on 4 November 1964 in Basel (Switzerland) and a Swiss citizen, joined the Hague Conference in 1997 as Secretary, was appointed First Secretary in 2000 and then became Deputy Secretary General in 2011. A brief biography of Mr Bernasconi is available here.