Anthony Whelan with European Commission executive vice-president Teresa Ribera

Mr Whelan, currently deputy director-general for State aid policy within the directorate-general for competition (DG COMP), will soon take on the role of director-general.

Together with the national competition authorities, DG COMP directly enforces EU competition rules to make EU markets work better, by ensuring that all companies compete equally and fairly on their merits.

With over 30 years of professional experience, Mr Whelan brings extensive expertise in competition and internal market policy, underpinned by a strong strategic coordination, and interinstitutional engagement.

He has a proven ability to steer highly sensitive policy files, such as those within the digital policy remit, delivering legislation such as the Digital Services Act (DSA).

His experience spans key areas central to EU competition matters, including State aid, industrial and digital policy, research and innovation, and macro-economic and financial services matters, giving him a broad and integrated understanding of how competition policy supports the EU’s strategic objectives.

In a statement, the European Commission said: “Mr Whelan has demonstrated strong leadership and organisational capabilities, including setting strategic direction, driving complex initiatives across services, and ensuring coherent implementation through effective governance.

“He is highly skilled in building consensus among diverse stakeholders, managing the political steering of the different legislative files, including the external communication side.

“These combined experiences provide him with the strategic, organisational and operational perspective required to head the directorate-general for competition.”

Mr Whelan, a native of Scariff in Co Clare, is a barrister. He was educated at Cistercian College Roscrea, Trinity College Dublin, and Cambridge University, winning several scholarships along the way. He lectured at Trinity College Law School, before joining Advocate General Nial Fennelly as a legal expert at the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg.

After a time in the Commission legal service, where he represented the EU in major competition cases such as the Microsoft litigation, he joined the cabinet of Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes. He later became her head of cabinet (private office), both as competition commissioner and as vice-president for the digital agenda.

In 2014 he was appointed director for telecoms policy in DG Connect (the commission’s technology department), where he led negotiations on the abolition of mobile roaming charges.

In 2019, Mr Whelan joined the cabinet of European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen as her digital adviser, also advising on single market, industrial and competition policy. He was subsequently her acting head of cabinet and senior economic adviser.

In September 2025, he joined DG COMP as deputy director-general for State aid.