A new man has been put in charge at the Isle of Man’s Brussels office

Mike Vercnocke replaces David Corlett, who returns to the External Relations Directorate in the Cabinet Office where he will head up the government team focusing on the implications for the Isle of Man as a result of Brexit.

Mr Vercnocke joins the Isle of Man after 11 years as head of the London City Office in Brussels, where he worked since 1995, when he joined the European Commission on secondment from the Bank of England.

After a short career as an archaeologist, he worked from 1986 to 1995 at the Bank of England, and then went on to work at the European Banking Federation, in Brussels, where he was deputy to the Secretary General.

Chief Minister Howard Quayle said: ’I am delighted to welcome Mike. His wealth of experience working with the many and varied institutions across the European Union including political, official and think tank audiences makes him an excellent appointment and representative of the Isle of Man at the centre of Europe.

’Ensuring that we are fully informed and have strong relationships in the heart of Europe has never been as important as it is just now and this is not going to diminish. Mike has the essential European knowledge and relationships from his years representing the City of London that will be crucial to the island as the EU evolves.’

With a Belgian father and British mother, Mr Vercnocke has grown up in an international environment.

At the European Banking Federation, his main challenge was putting together the response of the European banking industry to the proposals coming out of the Basel Committee and the European Commission on reforming regulatory capital requirements.

He then joined Houston Consulting Europe, a public affairs firm based in Brussels that focused on EU financial markets. He specialised in prudential supervision, accounting, auditing and market infrastructures.

Mr Verconcke said: ’Representing the Isle of Man in Europe is a new challenge for me and one that I am looking forward to.

’The island has a reputation for being a well-regulated jurisdiction and one that takes its international responsibilities seriously.

’I am looking forward to ensuring that relevant lawmakers and opinion formers understand the island’s position and building on the strong foundations made through the Isle of Man Brussels office since it was established.’

Mr Vercnocke was educated in Frankfurt, Milan, Manchester, Rome and Cambridge, and is married with two adult children.