( dpa ) - Football's governing body FIFA on Thursday announced that they had appointed Swiss national Hans Klaus as new Director of Communications and Public Affairs.
In a statement released in Zurich, the organization said that the 42-year-old would be taking over from the acting director Andreas Herren on May 20.
"Klaus is a qualified public relations adviser, brings with him wide-ranging experience in communications for international companies.
"Klaus is currently the Director of Global Corporate Communications and Corporate Social Responsibility at Japan Tobacco, an international company based in Geneva.
"He previously headed the information service of the Swiss Federal Department of Justice and Police, and before that, he was a media spokesperson for Swissair for eight years."
The organization said that Herren will continue in this role until Klaus takes over. Herren will then accept a new position elsewhere.
"He will, however, continue to offer his services to FIFA until ongoing projects have been completed or handed over to other persons."
FIFA also said that Frenchman Nicolas Maingot is the new Head of the FIFA Media Department.
"The 38-year-old Frenchman, who has been employed by FIFA as a media officer since 2001, previously held a similar position at the French football association (FFF)."