Overview
- Whelan, named on Monday, takes over from acting chief Linsey McCallum at DG Competition, the European Commission unit that enforces antitrust, state-aid rules and merger control.
- Competition chief Teresa Ribera said his professionalism will protect objectivity, independence and equal treatment in enforcement.
- He previously advised Ursula von der Leyen on digital policy and last year became a deputy at DG Competition overseeing state aid.
- He steps in as the Commission finalizes new merger guidelines and increases scrutiny of Big Tech, with a fresh look at state-aid tools also underway.
- POLITICO reports some lobbyists and a lawmaker view the hire as a von der Leyen power move, while officials close to Ribera say it was her choice, and colleagues describe Whelan as a safe pair of hands.