Diana Dovgan has been appointed secretary general of CECOP – CICOPA Europe (the European Confederation of worker, social and producers’ cooperatives active in industry and services) and CICOPA (the international organisation of industrial and service co-operatives).
She has spent a decade as senior policy officer at the organisation, and will assume her new position on 1 March.
“After 10 years as policy officer in both organisations, I have developed a sound and sincere belief in the co-operative model,” she said. “I am happy and honoured to pursue my career in advocating the causes CECOP – CICOPA Europe and CICOPA are standing by, such as worker-ownership and social justice.”
Prior to joining CECOP – CICOPA Europe and CICOPA in 2008, Ms Dovgan worked as advisor for the Belgian minister of social integration, equal opportunities and public service.
She takes over the role from Bruno Roelants, who joined the International Co-operative Alliance as director general in January.
“I am really happy with what we have managed to achieve in both CECOP and CICOPA over the last few years, and I am confident that Diana Dovgan will pursue and improve this ongoing work, where a lot still has to be done,” said Mr Roelants.
“I also think that, after managing CECOP for 12 years and CICOPA for 16 years, it is a very good thing that another person can now take up the torch. I wish all the best to CECOP and CICOPA, and I will continue to cooperate with them from my new role at the ICA.”
In a joint statement, CECOP – CICOPA Europe’s president, Giuseppe Guerini and CICOPA’s president, Manuel Mariscal, expressed gratitude for Mr Roelants’ “excellent work and absolute dedication” during his 15 years at the organisations.
“We wish him the best with his future engagement,” they said. “Regarding the future, we believe Diana Dovgan is the right person to build upon Bruno’s achievements and at the same time bring new ideas and vision to our co-operative movement.”
