Four candidates, including Gurry, to run for WIPO leadership

The other three candidates whose names were received by the deadline at 5pm Geneva time today were Geoffrey Onyeama from Nigeria, Jüri Seilenthal from Estonia, and Alfredo Suescum from Panama.

Despite speculation from some IP professionals that WIPO deputy director general Jim Pooley of the US might be in the running, he was not on the list.

One of the candidates will be nominated in March 2014 by the WIPO Coordination Committee, made up of representatives from 83 member states. The winning candidate will then be appointed by the WIPO General assembly in May.

The selection of the director general is governed by WIPO’s procedures.