She started her career as a trade mark attorney in private practice, and as in-house counsel for Royal Numico (now Danone). After that Diana worked as an IP lawyer to gain a broader experience in IP law and IP litigation, but after several years she decided to return to the role of in-house counsel. First with the Dutch life sciences company DSM, and since 2007 with AkzoNobel, a global company specialized in decorative coatings, specialty chemicals, and performance coatings. It was also in 2007 that Diana was asked to join the MARQUES Council. She was also a member of the MARQUES Membership Team (now the Communications and Membership Team).

Especially during the last year Diana has prepared herself for the role of Chair by actively participating in various (user group) meetings, by attending relevant meetings organized by amongst others OHIM and WIPO and by reading numerous papers prepared by the External Relations Officer (Alessandra Romeo) and by the various Teams of MARQUES.

Playing a valuable and influential role in the IP world is not possible without support, and to achieve MARQUES’ goals Diana will be assisted by the new Executive Director (Chris Barnard), by the other Council members, the Executive Committee and of course all of the Teams.

Diana will serve a two-year term as MARQUES Chair and will be interviewed in a future issue of HouseMARQUES.

At the same time, Uwe Over of Henkel AG & Co became 1st Vice-Chair and Gregor Versondert of Procter & Gamble International Operations SA became 2nd Vice-Chair of MARQUES.

Outgoing Chair Nunzia Varricchio of DSM remains on the MARQUES Executive Committee.