WIPO's Sector Leads
WIPO's Sector Leads play an important role as senior leaders of the Organization. Collectively, and together with the Director General, they set the tone at the top. As a team, they are responsible not just for strategy and leadership but also translating strategy into concrete plans, initiatives and actions.
Deputy Directors General
Shen Changyu
Deputy Director General Shen Changyu (China) leads the Brands and Designs Sector.
This Sector is responsible for administering the Madrid System for International Trademark Registrations; the Hague System for International Design Registrations; the Lisbon System for International Registrations of Appellations of Origin; and the Organization’s programs relating to trademarks, designs and geographical indications. The Sector ensures the continued modernization of WIPO’s services and architecture in these areas to better serve users and support innovation, competitiveness, economic growth and sustainable development in a fast-changing and increasingly digital global economy.
Pascal Faure
Deputy Director General Pascal Faure (France) leads the Copyright, Creative Economy and IP Governance Sector.
Deputy Director General Pascal Faure (France) leads the Copyright, Creative Economy and IP Governance Sector.
This Sector is responsible for the Organization’s work on copyright and related rights and the development of relevant programs and tools to support creators and the copyright ecosystem, as well as the growth and development of the cultural industries and the creative economy. It also works on strengthening judicial cooperation and building a culture of respect for IP, including addressing issues of IP piracy and counterfeiting.
Laura Peter
Deputy Director General Laura Peter (United States of America) leads the Patents and Technology Sector.
This Sector is responsible for administering the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) and the Organization’s programs relating to patents, trade secrets and other IP matters connected to the technology sector. The Sector ensures the continued modernization of WIPO’s services and architecture in these areas to better serve users and support innovation, competitiveness, economic growth and sustainable development in a fast-changing and increasingly digital global economy.
Mzukisi Qobo
Assistant Directors General
Chitra Narayanaswamy
Assistant Director General Chitra Narayanaswamy (Switzerland) leads the Corporate Management and Transformation Sector.
Assistant Director General Chitra Narayanaswamy (Switzerland) leads the Corporate Management and Transformation Sector.
This Sector is responsible for providing corporate services, governance, financial stewardship, digital capabilities and operational support that enable the Organization to deliver effectively to Member States. It drives organizational modernization, business transformation and enterprise-wide efficiency while ensuring future growth, strong financial management, robust governance, secure digital operations, sound infrastructure, and dynamic corporate services.
Andrew Staines
Assistant Director General Andrew Staines leads the Global Challenges, Opportunities and Partnerships Sector.
Assistant Director General Andrew Staines (United Kingdom) leads the Global Challenges, Opportunities and Partnerships Sector
Kenichiro Natsume
Assistant Director General Kenichiro Natsume (Japan) leads the IP and Innovation Ecosystems Sector.
Assistant Director General Kenichiro Natsume (Japan) leads the Infrastructure and Platforms Sector.
This Sector is responsible for developing, implementing and maintaining the Organization’s global digital infrastructure, databases, platforms and services used by IP offices, professionals, businesses, researchers and other users at the national, regional and international levels. The Sector also leads WIPO’s work at the intersection of IP and artificial intelligence as well as other frontier and emerging technologies and drive the continued modernization of the Organization’s digital platforms to ensure that the Organization’s digital services remain secure, interoperable, scalable and fit for the future.
Marco Alemán
Assistant Director General Marco Alemán (Colombia) leads the IP and Innovation Ecosystems Sector.
This Sector is responsible for the Organization’s work in promoting the use of IP as a business and economic asset through a broader approach to IP that focuses on its ability to bring an idea to the market, as well as support the development of IP and innovation ecosystems. It will be a center of expertise and lead the Organization’s work in relation to technology transfer and the use of IP for the translation and deployment of research into economic outcomes and tangible impact. It also develops and scales up programs that support the use of IP by entrepreneurs and enterprises, especially SMEs. This Sector also provides IP and economic analysis that will give policy makers and users data-driven insights, including through the Global Innovation Index.