Helmut Schober takes office as Director General at European Spallation Source

Helmut Schober took office as Director General of the European Spallation Source (ESS) on November 1. His appointment comes at a crucial time for the project, with beam commissioning in the first part of the accelerator recently commencing and civil construction nearing completion.

Schober brings extensive experience from the neutron research field, having spent over two decades at the Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL) in Grenoble, France, where he was Director since 2016. He is a recognized figure in the European research community and is familiar with the ESS project from his previous role on the ESS Scientific Advisory Committee.

The ESS is currently undergoing a re-baselining process to establish an updated plan for the facility's completion. This process is a direct response to the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the project timeline and its in-kind partners.

The ESS Council expressed its satisfaction with Schober's appointment. "The entire ESS Council is very pleased that Helmut Schober has accepted to take up the duty as ESS Director General," stated Beatrix Vierkorn-Rudolph, Chair of the ESS Council. The Council anticipates intensive collaboration during these challenging times and beyond.

Upon Schober's assumption of the Director General role, Kevin Jones, previously acting Director General, will return to his position as ESS Technical Director.