Executive Director, EUIPO, ES

João Negrão is the Executive Director of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) since 1 October 2023. João originally joined the EUIPO as head of the Executive Director's Cabinet in 2010 and between 2011 and 2020 he was Director of the International Cooperation and Legal Affairs Department of the EUIPO. Between 2021 and 2023 he has held the position of President of the EUIPO Boards of Appeal. Before joining the EUIPO, João held different positions in the Portuguese public administration, in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs/General Directorate for EU Affairs, the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and the Ministry of Justice/National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI). In 2001, he joined the INPI in the international relations cabinet, becoming the Head of Cabinet in 2004. In 2008, he was appointed Director of International Relations and Promotion of Innovation at INPI. João Negrão holds a Master's degree in law and a bachelor's degree in international relations. He also has a number of high level qualifications in Public Administration Management (National Institute of Administration), Leadership Management and High Performance People Skills for Leaders (London Business School) as well as IP-related courses, such as a general course on IP (WIPO Worldwide Academy) and a specialised course on the practice and functioning of the IP system in the USA (USPTO).