Bernhard Url was appointed Executive Director of the European Food Safety Agency, EFSA, in June 2014, having served as Acting Executive Director for seven months. Dr Url joined EFSA in June 2012 as Head of the Risk Assessment and Scientific Assistance Department. A qualified veterinarian by training, he brings high-level management experience from food-safety organisations to his role at EFSA. Before joining the Authority, Dr Url was Managing Director of the Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, AGES, which represents Austria on EFSA’s Advisory Forum. During his 10 years at AGES, he was in charge of technical and scientific affairs with a remit that included the timely delivery of risk assessment and risk management services across a wide range of areas. This included ensuring effective risk communications during urgent food safety-related events. Dr Url was an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Milk Hygiene and Milk Technology at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna before running a food quality control laboratory from 1993 to 2002. He graduated from the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna in 1987 and became a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1990. He has published in the field of veterinary medicine with a particular focus on listeria and milk hygiene.