Brussels, 22 October 2024
The European Commission has appointed David Mueller as Principal Adviser at the Directorate-General for Human Resources and Security (DG HR) in charge of ‘HR Strategic Foresight and Innovation’. This Commission department oversees recruitment policy, training and career management, social policies and working conditions for Commission staff. It is responsible for keeping buildings and employees safe, and online security. The date of effect will be determined later.
With over 20 years of experience in EU and national institutions, Mr Mueller has developed deep expertise across various policy areas, including budgetary and administrative matters, cohesion policy, enlargement, and foreign policy, particularly focusing on the EU’s neighbouring countries. His extensive experience has refined his coordination, negotiation, and communication skills, enabling him to represent the Commission effectively at senior levels externally, while also driving internal decision-making processes.
Most notably, Mr Mueller played a key role in range of key human resources policy initiatives in the past 5 years, including shaping the Commission’s Human Resources Strategy, the roll-out of the digital transition for staff during the Covid-19 pandemic as well as the considerable improvement of gender balance at all levels of management in the Commission. In his new role, Mr Mueller, an Austrian national, will be well-placed to leverage further his robust management experience and comprehensive knowledge of Human Resources policy, which he has acquired particularly over the past five years as Head of Cabinet for Commissioner Johannes Hahn, responsible for Budget and Administration. Previously, he served as a Member of Cabinet under Commissioner Hahn during his mandates for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, and before that for Regional and Urban Policy.
Prior to joining the Commission in 2007, Mr Mueller held roles at Austrian public administration and the European Parliament.