
The European Patent Office appointed a UK Intellectual Property Office director as the vice president for its patent granting process today.
Stephen Rowan, currently director of patents, trade marks, designs and tribunals at the UKIPO, will succeed Alberto Casado Cervino of Spain on January 1 2019.
Rowan was chosen by the Administrative Council of the European Patent Organisation, the organisation’s legislative body, and will serve in the role for five years.
“This is great news for Steve and for the UKIPO,” a UKIPO spokesperson tells Managing IP. “We wish him all the best in this challenging role.”
The EPO's directorate-general patent granting process is responsible for the entire patent granting process, including search, examination, publication, opposition and related formalities.
Rowan joined the UKIPO in 1991 and has since held several operational and tribunal roles there.
He has also worked on a wide range of IP policy issues as deputy director of the International and Copyright and IP Enforcement Directorates and was head of the UK delegation to the Beijing and Marrakesh Diplomatic Conferences.