On 20 June 2018, the Commission appointed Ville Itälä from Finland as new Director-General of OLAF. He took office on 1 August 2018. Mr. Itälä is the successor to Giovanni Kesslerfrom Italy who was appointed the head of the Italian Customs and Monopoly Agency.

Mr. Itälä won against several candidates, following a long procedure characterised by confidentiality. He served as a member of the European Court of Auditors from 2012-February 2018. The new Director-General also looks back on a political career: from 2004-2012, he was Member of the European Parliament. He was also Vice-Chair of the European People’s Party and European Democrats’ Group (2004-2006). From 2000-2003, he was Minister of the Interior of Finland.