Helping Greece prime the pump

Senior officials

Horst Reichenbach has worked at the London-based European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) since August 2005. He was the EBRD's secretary-general and in April 2007 was appointed vice-president for risk management, human resources and nuclear safety. Before joining the bank, Reichenbach worked in the European Commission for more than 30 years. He was director-general of the enterprise and industry department in 2004-2005, director-general for personnel and administration in 1999-2004, and director-general for consumer policy in 1997-99. He was head of the private office of Monika Wulf-Mathies when she was European commissioner for regional policy in 1995-97. Reichenbach, who is 66, was due to leave the EBRD at the end of this year when his mandate expires. The EBRD has started the search for a replacement. Until one is found, Reichenbach's responsibilities are being shared among the other vice-presidents.

Jörgen Holmquist, currently a special adviser to the Commission, was director-general of the internal market department from 2007 until July 2010. He was moved aside to make room for Jonathan Faull, then director-general at the department for freedom, security and justice, to replace him. The previous year, Gordon Brown, the UK's prime minister, had insisted on a Briton taking over as a condition for accepting Frenchman Michel Barnier's appointment as European commissioner for the internal market. Holmquist was director-general for fisheries in 2002-06, and before that deputy director-general for budget.

David Wright, currently a special adviser to the Commission, was deputy director-general for the internal market until July 2010, and before that a director in the same department. His 34 years in the Commission include stints in the private offices of President Jacques Santer and commissioner Leon Brittan.