The seven-year term of office for OLAF Director-General Ville Itälä ended on 31 July 2025. As of 1 August 2025, the current Deputy Director-General Salla Saastamoinen assumed the role of Acting Director-General of OLAF until a new Director-General is appointed. The selection process is ongoing.

Ville Itälä was appointed OLAF Director-General in 2018. His tenure was marked by major challenges in protecting of the EU's financial interests, including the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, during which OLAF prevented the undue spending of billions of euros on fake medical supplies and vaccines. OLAF also contributed to enforcing sanctions against Russia and its allies, and to bolstering Ukraine’s anti-fraud system. Mr Itälä's mandate also saw the establishment of the European Public Prosecutor's Office with which close cooperation in anti-fraud matters had to be implemented. During Mr. Itälä's tenure, OLAF closed 1,588 investigations, recommended the recovery of over €4 billion in misused EU funds, and prevented the undue spending of more than €810 million. Mr. Itälä also contributed two guest editorials to eucrim.

The selection procedure for OLAF's Director-General is regulated in Art. 17(2) of the OLAF Regulation. The Director-General is appointed by the Commission after consultation with the European Parliament and the Council. The Director-General's term of office is seven years and is not renewable.