Koen Doens

Koen Doens is a classical philologist, who was a professor of Latin and Greek in his early days. After joining the Belgian diplomatic service, he was posted as a diplomat in Syria, Iran and the Russian Federation. Back in Belgium, he joined the Cabinet of the Belgian Minister for Foreign Trade, Annemie Neyts, and subsequently the Cabinet of the Belgian Vice-Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Louis Michel. 

In 2004, he joined the European Commission as Deputy Head of Cabinet of Louis Michel, Commissioner in charge of Development and Humanitarian Aid. In 2007, he became his Head of Cabinet. He continued as Head of Cabinet in 2009 when Karel De Gucht took over as Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid. On 1 February 2010, President Barroso nominated him as Head of the Spokespersons' Service, a job he occupied until the end of President Barroso's mandate on 31 October 2014. 

On 1 November 2014, he took up his function as Director for EU-Africa Relations, East and Southern Africa in the Directorate General for International Cooperation and Development. 

On 1 March 2018, he became Deputy Director General responsible for Africa, Asia, Middle East/Gulf, Pacific, Latin America and Caribbean in the Directorate General for International Cooperation and Development. As of 1 October 2019, he is occupying the function of Director-General for International Cooperation and Development.