Trademarks body gives seal of approval to promotion

Date: 28/11/02

By David Cronin

THE EU body responsible for awarding trademarks has backed a promotion for its top official.

Wubbo de Boer, president of the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (OHIM), becomes an A1-grade official on 1 January. A spokesman for OHIM, which is based in Alicante, Spain, said the agency's board voted unanimously to approve the promotion, which was suggested by representatives of EU member states rather than de Boer himself.

Staff at 'A1' level earn between €11,900 and €15,100 per month depending on how many years they have held that rank.

The OHIM office made a profit of €5 million last year. De Boer's pay rise will be funded from fees paid by trademark applicants rather than the EU budget, added the spokesman.

The EU body responsible for awarding trademarks, the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (OHIM), has backed a promotion for its top official.