European Network of Public Employment Services (PES Network) welcomes today a new Chair, Mr Johannes Kopf, Head of the Austrian Public Employment Service (AMS)

© AMS / Saulich

The European Network of Public Employment Services welcomes a new chair, Mr. Johannes Kopf, Head of the Austrian Public Employment Service (AMS) He is succeeding Mr Fons Leroy, Head of the Belgian VDAB PES, on 1 July 2019. The Board of the PES Network has elected him for a period of 2 years (2019 to 2021).

Mr Johannes Kopf said: “I am very proud to represent our Network to our stakeholders at the highest level! The PES Network helps Public Employment Services boost their performance and prepare for future labour market challenges, such as digitalisation, globalisation, and demographic shifts or migration. In the coming months, I am determined to raise the profile of the Network and further promote its activities in Europe while continuing enhancing our fruitful European collaboration!”

Johannes Kopf has been a member of the Board of Directors at the Austrian Public Employment Service (AMS) since 2006. From 2003 to 2006, he worked as the labour market expert for Dr. Martin Bartenstein, Minister for Economics and Labour, and was a member of the supervisory board of the AMS.

He was previously a labour market expert at the Federation of Austrian Industries, a deputising member of the supervisory board of the AMS, and worked on several projects concerning educational policy. In 2001 and 2002, he was appointed as the Austrian employers' negotiator for both part-time work and for temporary agency work in the European Social Dialogue.

Johannes studied law at the University of Vienna and graduated an LL.M. in European Law at the Danube University. He lives in Vienna and is married with three children.