The General Director of the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office (SPTO) will lead the selection process of the new President of the European Patent Office (EPO) with its headquarters in Munich.

At the 118th Meeting of the Board of Administration of the European Patent Organization held in Munich from June 23 to June 25, State representatives unanimously decided to appoint SPTO General Director, Alberto Casado Cerviño, as President of the Board starting next July 1 for as long as the European Patent Office selection and new President appointing process lasts. The current President, Alison Brimelow, finishes her term on June 30, 2010.

The European Patent Organization is made up of 2 branches: the Board of Administration, which is the political and controlling arm consisting of 35 signatory States of the European Patent Convention; and the European Patent Office (EPO), which is the executive arm in charge of granting European patents.