The Scientific Council of the European Research Council (ERC) has announced the selection of the ERC secretary general for the first five years of its operation. Professor Ernst-Ludwig Winnacker, who is at present the president of the German Research Foundation (DFG), will occupy the position of secretary general of the ERC from January 2007 until June 2009. Andreu Mas-Colell, currently professor of economics at Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona and president of the European Economic Association, will take over from July 2009 to December 2011.

The secretary general of the ERC will play a prominent role in the development and strategic orientation of the ERC. He will be part of the ERC board together with the president and the two vice presidents of the Scientific Council as well as with the director of the executive agency of the ERC.