Michael Jennings Email & Phone Number

Vaud, Switzerland

Vevey, Switzerland

Brussels, Belgium

Member of Cabinet of Kristalina Georgieva, Vice President for Budget and Human Resources. Communications Advisor to VP Georgieva. I was responsible for communicating on the €150 billion EU budget, as well as for internal communications to the 33000 staff of the European Commission. Also liaison in the cabinet for some of the services answering to VP Georgieva, notably the translation and interpretation services. A key project was an online database of EU-funded projects. I also oversaw a substantial revamp of the Commission’s intranet and expanded internal communications, including increased use of video and collaborative platforms. I coordinated the work of external and internal communications teams across a number of services answering to VP Georgieva. I also helped her manage her popular Twitter and Facebook profiles, expanding the Twitter profile from around 33,000 to more than 82,000 followers in less than two years.

Brussels, Belgium

I was appointed as Spokesperson to Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, in September 2011. Speaking on the record to media in the EU pressroom, I also led and coordinated the activities of three communications teams in the three services of the Commissioner, with a total of more than 60 staff. I played a key role in the presentation, legislative approval and launch of Horizon 2020, the €80 billion EU research and innovation programme. A concerted political and communications campaign helped achieve a budget increase of more than 30% over the previous programme. Starting in 2013, I conceived and then ran a story-based campaign on EU research projects, achieving more than 4000 earned media stories in less than a year.

Brussels, Belgium

Strategic Communications Advisor in the European External Action Service, working amongst other things on a draft EU Public Diplomacy Strategy.

Brussels, Belgium

In 2010, I took on the role of private secretary to Catherine Ashton, following her appointment as EU foreign policy chief. I was responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of Catherine Ashton, leading a front office of four people. This period included the negotiations and establishment of the European External Action Service. I also gained insight into the front line of foreign affairs on many foreign trips, including the opening round of the nuclear talks with Iran.

Brussels, Belgium

In 2007, I moved to Brussels to work as press officer for External Trade for Peter Mandelson and then Catherine Ashton, dealing with issues such as the Doha Round of world trade talks, trade relations with developing countries, and a number of high profile WTO trade disputes including the Boeing – Airbus cases. I was heavily involved in the successful battle to close the EU-South Korea trade deal in 2009.

Beijing, China

I joined the European Commission in 2005, as head of press and information in the EU Delegation to China and Mongolia. Heading up a team of three local staff and working extensively with local agencies, I promoted the image of the EU in China and dealt with countless visits of EU Commissioners. Highlights include organising the 2005 EU-China Summit, communicating the EU-China textiles negotiations, as well as running the ‘Europe Street’ music and culture festivals for tens of thousands of visitors in Beijing and Chengdu.

Beijing, China

Working directly under the General Manager for Corporate Communications, managed Public Relations, Media Relations and Internal Communications for Bayer in Greater China. Location: Beijing, PR China. Major projects included successfully adapting and communicating the new Bayer corporate identity and structure on the Chinese market. I also helped expand Bayer’s social responsibility activities in China, including through partnerships with Special Olympics and World Vision.

Beijing, China

Corporate Communications for Bayer in Greater China, including media relations, brochures, events and web site management.

Dublin, Ireland

Teaching and research assistance for Professor of Political Economy at Trinity College Dublin. Position involved teaching classes and coordinating and marking exam papers for an intermediate economics class.

M.Litt, Economics

I completed a research-based degree with a Masters thesis on public broadcasting in Ireland, using the contingent valuation method.

B.A., Economics & Social Studies, First Class Honours

Activities and Societies: Scholar of Trinity College; Basketball Team; Published in Student Economic Review; Student Political Review

Abitur