BIS appoints Daniel Lefort as General Counsel

The Board of Directors of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) today announced the appointment of Daniel Lefort as General Counsel. His selection followed the recommendation of the committee charged with assessing both internal and external candidates for the position. His appointment takes effect on 1 January 2006.

Mr Lefort’s appointment fills the vacancy being created by the retirement at the end of December 2005 of Mario Giovanoli, who has been General Counsel since 1987.

In his new role as head of the Legal Service, Mr Lefort will serve as a member of the Bank’s Executive Committee, which is responsible for implementing the Bank’s strategic and policy direction as determined by the Board.

A French national, Mr Lefort joined the BIS in 1984 and has held increasingly senior responsibilities in the Legal Service, providing legal counsel on a broad range of issues. He was named Deputy General Counsel in 1997.

Before coming to the BIS, Mr Lefort was an attorney with the Schlumberger Group in Paris and New York. He earned degrees in law from the University of Paris and the University of Strasbourg.

BIS General Manager Malcolm Knight expressed his gratitude to Mr Giovanoli for his years of service to the Bank. He welcomed the appointment of the new General Counsel, saying that "Mr Lefort brings to the role a thorough knowledge of the legal issues surrounding international financial institutions and markets, as well as an impressive understanding of BIS operations and strategy".