New management at Croix Rouge to tackle rising financial challenges

(RM) The Luxembourg Red Cross announced on Monday the appointment of two new directors within a recent strategy designed to access public resources in a more efficient manner.

Michael Simonis will now act as Managing Director, while Marc Crochet takes office as Deputy Director. The change in management comes as a part of a more proactive strategy set to help the organisation tackle the rising challenges imposed by the curent financial climate.

Simonis explained: "We will continue to work to improve and develop the corporate policy we have built in the last few years. However, the current financial crisis has increased the number of challenges while also highlighting the need to develop the existing public resources in order to address these problems.''

Mark Hook concluded: "The values of the Red Cross are universal and immutable. In the current context, agility and efficiency are the watch words to help vulnerable people in the best and most relevant way possible. ''

Honorary Director retires after 26 years

Following the appointment of Simonis as director general and Crochet as Deputy General Director, no new directors for "Health" or "Solidarity" will be assigned to succeed in their positions. This will allow the removal of a hierarchical level in the operational area and will ensure a more accelerated decision-making process, the Red Cross said in a statement.

Along with Simonis and Crochet, CFO Martine Buck and Luc Scheer, Director of Human Resources, will form the new Executive Commitee.

Honorary Director of the Red Cross Jacques M. Hansen, has now retired after spending 26 years at the helm of the organization.

Michel Simonis joined Croix Rouge in 2007 as director for the help service network before taking office as Health Manager in 2011.

Marc Crochet joined Croix Rouge in 1993 initially taking responsibility for the management of the service camps and later acted as Director for International and National Solidarity before being appointed as Deputy General Manager.

The Red Cross is improving the living conditions of vulnerable people in Luxembourg since 1914, as well as supporting the international charity's missions abroad.