Mr Borbely Karoly, 31, has been appointed the new Minister of IT&C. He replaces Mr Iuliu Winkler, who has become an MEP. Mr Borbely was a counsellor to Winkler between 2000 and 2002. A member of the Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR), the new Minister has been secretary of state and president of the National Authority for Youth since 2005.

Ms Lidia Barbulescu, 53, has been appointed the new president of the Superior Council of Magistrates (CSM). She was the only candidate for this position and won 15 votes of 16. She replaces judge Anton Pandrea. Barbulescu is the former vice-president of the High Court of Cassation and Justice.

Mr Nicolae Idu, 53, is the new Head of Representation of the European Commission (EC) to Bucharest, replacing Mr Donato Chiarini. Idu won a contest organised by the EC in which 80 people participated. In 1991, Idu headed the European funding programme PHARE in Romania. Between 2001 and 2007, he was general director of the European Institute of Romania, a state owned research institute.

Mr Stefanos Theocharopoulos is the new CEO of Cosmote Romania. The 39 year-old has been appointed after Mr Nikolaos Tsolas resigned for personal reasons. Mr Theocharopoulos joined the OTE Group in 2002 and from 2006 he was executive manager of Business Development at OTEGlobe.

Mr Mihai Razvan Ungureanu, 40, is the new head of the Foreign Intelligence Service (SIE). He replaces Claudiu Saftoiu who resigned last March. A member of the governing National Liberal Party (PNL), Mr Ungureanu was Minister of Foreign Affairs between 2004 and 2007. He started his diplomatic career in 1998 as secretary of state. Currently, he teaches Modern History at the University in Bucharest.

Mr Chris Batalliard is the new Chief Executive Officer of Telemobil, owner of the fourth largest mobile phone operator in Romania, Zapp. Mr Batalliard is the founder and CEO of Zapp Holdings.

Mr Sebastian Gutiu has taken over as managing partner in the Romanian office of Schoenherr and Associates. He replaces Mr Markus Piuk, who becomes equity partner and team-leader of mergers and acquisitions at Schoenherr central and eastern Europe.

Mr Ion Jinga, 46, has been appointed Ambassador for Romania to Great Britain, after the position was vacant for more than one year. Previously, Mr Jinga was Ambassador to Belgium for four years.

Mrs Claudia Pendred is the new director for the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in Romania. Previously, Mrs Pendred was director of corporate finance at investment bank group NM Rothschild & Sons (now Rothschild Bank International), with responsibility for utilities in central and eastern Europe.

Ms Dana Raduta Matache, 45, has been appointed secretary of state for European Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Mr Tudor Chiuariu, 32, is the new state counsellor for Justice in the Prime Minister’s Cabinet. Mr Chiuariu was Minister of Justice for eight months until December 2007 when he resigned due to an investigation over alleged corruption.

Ms Anda Todor and Mr Christopher Berlew have been appointed co-managing partners of Salans in Bucharest, while current managing partner, Mr Obie Moore, will focus on international client work. Ms Todor is specialised in M&A, private equity and capital markets and Mr Berlew served as an enforcement attorney with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, and in the mid-1990s worked as a diplomat at the US Embassy in Bucharest.

Mr Jan Sorensen, 58, has been appointed the UN Resident Coordinator and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) representative to Romania. Prior to this appointment he was senior policy adviser at the International Labour Organisation HQ in Geneva since 2005, UNDP resident representative in Guyana (2003-2004) and Latvia (1997-2002).

Mr Sypros Attas is the new Ambassador of Cyprus to Romania.