European Investment Fund welcomes Merete Clausen as new Deputy Chief Executive

• Merete Clausen, Director at the European Commission’s DG GROW, to join European Investment Fund (EIF) as Deputy Chief Executive starting January 16^th 2025.
• She succeeds Belgian national Roger Havenith, who held the post since 2016.

Luxembourg, 12 December 2024: The EIF is pleased to announce the appointment of Merete Clausen to the post of Deputy Chief Executive after a decision of the EIF Board of Directors meeting on 12 December. The Danish and Luxembourgish national, currently a Director at the European Commission’s DG Grow, will succeed departing Deputy Roger Havenith, starting 16 January 2025. Ms Clausen previously served as an EIF Board member (from April 2022 – April 2024) and was appointed upon the proposal of the European Commission.

The EIF’s objective is to help European businesses access finance. It designs and deploys financial instruments that absorb part of the risk taken by banks, guarantee institutions, microfinance lenders and funds when they finance European SMEs, individuals, and infrastructure projects. This encourages funds to invest, banks to lend, and private investment to be crowded in, creating a more sustainable financing ecosystem.

EIB Group President Nadia Calviño welcomed the appointment: “I’m delighted that someone of Merete Clausen’s calibre is joining the team at the European Investment Fund as Deputy Chief Executive. With her background at the European Commission, she not only brings an in-depth knowledge of what companies in Europe need to thrive but a precious understanding of the dynamic role that small and medium sized businesses play in our economies. I also want to wholeheartedly thank Roger Havenith for his dedicated service to the Group over all these years.”

“It’s a pleasure to welcome Merete to the team,” said EIF Chief Executive Marjut Falkstedt. “As someone who knows the EIF well, I’m sure that she will bring her expertise and experience, new energy and drive to the organisation as we intensify our efforts to help European businesses with their financing needs, supporting them to navigate the green and digital transitions and pursue their growth ambitions, carrying with them the European economy.”

“I am excited to join the EIF and EIB Group at this pivotal moment, where tackling Europe's investment challenges and supporting the scaling-up of companies is more urgent than ever.” added Merete Clausen. “The EIF is instrumental in fostering growth, competitiveness, and innovation among European businesses. I look forward to contributing to its leadership on this remarkable journey."

Ms Clausen holds a master’s degree in law from the University of Aarhus, Denmark, and worked in private practice in Copenhagen and Aarhus before joining the EU institutions in 2001. She was previously Head of Unit in the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs, responsible for coordination with the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and other International Financial Institutions. Before that, she was responsible for the SME Window part of the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), the predecessor to the InvestEU Programme, and other European Union innovative instruments designed to support investment in innovative enterprises, SMEs, micro- and social enterprises.

Background information

The European Investment Fund (EIF): The EIF is part of the EIB Group. It supports Europe’s SMEs by improving their access to finance through a wide range of selected financial intermediaries. The EIF designs, promotes and implements equity and debt financing instruments targeting SMEs. In this role, EIF fosters EU objectives in support of entrepreneurship, growth, innovation, research and development, the green and digital transitions and employment.

Media contact:

Tim Smit | Tel: +352 691 286423 | t.smit@eib.org