Mr Lazar Comanescu, 58, has been appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs, replacing Mr Adrian Cioroianu. Mr Comanescu has a long experience in European affairs following a tenure of ten years as Romania’s Ambassador to the EU. Between 1998 and 2001, Comanescu was also Ambassador to NATO.

Mr Patrice Lespagnol is the new executive director of Carrefour Romania, replacing Jacobo Caller Celestino, who was appointed executive director of Carrefour Russia. Mr Lespagnol was previously a hypermarket director in Carrefour Spain.

Mr Dominic Bruynseels, 48, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of Austrian Erste Bank-owned Banca Comerciala Romana. Mr. Bruynseels joins Romania’s market leader after 27 years with UK bank Barclays. Most recently, he worked as senior executive director of Barclays’ GRCB Emerging Market in Dubai. Mr Bruynseels’ appointment requires the approval of the Romania’s central bank, subject to which, he will take-over as CEO in July from current CEO Manfred Wimmer.

Mr Cristian Dragos has been appointed the new general director of Domenia Credit, a company specialised in mortgage loans and part of General Electric Money. Dragos has led the sales and marketing department of GE Money from 2006.

Mr Francisc Toth has been appointed general manager of gas producer Romgaz by Minister of Economy and Finance Varujan Vosganian.

Mr Denis Rousset, 43, is the new general manager of BT Asigurari, an insurance company recently bought by French giant Groupama. Mr Rousset participated in the merger of French company Gan Eurocourtage with CGU Brokerage before taking responsibility for Business Management and Administration of Groupama’s French subsidiary.

Mr Alexandru Macovei is the new president of the National Agency for Integrity (ANI), which aims to monitor the wealth declarations of public figures, such as members of Parliament. Previously he was vice-president of the same institution. Mr Macovei also worked as a prosecutor for the National Department for Anti-corruption (DNA) between 2003 and 2006.

Mr Dionisio Campos is the new general manager of the Ford car plant in Craiova, Dolj county.