The I.O.I. is pleased to announce that Diane Welborn, Ombudsman, Joint Office of Citizen Complaints for Dayton, Ohio has been elected as the new Director for the IOI North American Region. Diane Welborn will replace Bill Angrick after his retirement in June 2010.

The members of the Austrian Ombudsman Board annually submit a report to the National Council and to the Federal Council outlining the institution's work, priorities, and main findings of the past year. The international edition of the 2009 report is now out.

Mr. Dieter Burgard is the new Ombudsman of Rhineland-Palatinate. He succeeded Mr. Ullrich Galle who unexpectedly resigned in April 2010 after 15 years in office.

On 20 September 2010, Mr Bart Weekers took his oath of office as the new Ombudsman of Flanders.

A new Ombudsman institution was created in September. Mr. Cédric Langer is now the new Ombudsman for the German-speaking Community.

On 7 September 2010, a new Ombudsman was elected. Mr. Pavel Varvarovský is now the new Public Defender of Rights.

The Swedish Government has appointed Mats Melin President of the Swedish Supreme Administrative Court on 26 August 2010. Consequently, he will resign from his present position as Chief Parliamentary Ombudsman on 2 January 2011 to take up the new post.