During a meeting held in Paris on March 5, the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) Council appointed Bernard Bigot as the next Director-General of the ITER Organization, succeeding Osamu Motojima.

Bigot said, “The whole world needs innovative technologies to ensure a long-term sustainable supply of energy. Magnetic confinement fusion is one of the most promising options. I am deeply honored for the possibility of contributing to the large, international, and ambitious research program that is ITER, which has innovation as its aim. Be assured that I will do my best to meet the expectations of the ITER members.” Motojima, appointed Emeritus Director-General of the ITER Organization by Bigot, is leaving ITER with the gratitude of the ITER Council and after having made significant contributions to this international endeavor.

Bigot, a distinguished scientist, was the Chair and CEO of the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission, CEA, and was also the High Commissioner for ITER in France before he joined the ITER Organization. Bigot has had a long and distinguished career and a record of close involvement with ITER. He is an experienced senior manager of large programs and projects, a leader capable of finding common ground among ITER members, an excellent communicator, and he is highly respected by the fusion research community, according to the ITER Council. He has taken up his duties as Director-General immediately.