Jean-Paul ZENS

Jean-Paul Zens is the director-general of the Media and Communications Department (SMC) of the Prime Minister’s office.

Formerly known as the Media and Audiovisual Department, the SMC was established in order to foster the development of Luxembourg as an international media and communications hub. It is responsible for handling the coordination of all matters related to media and telecommunications policy – including Internet, content, data protection and their associated regulatory elements. The department is also responsible for the promotion of Luxembourg’s media and telecommunications activities on the international level.

Jean-Paul Zens serves as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Luxembourg-based global satellite operator SES, and is a board-member of Luxembourg’s largest telecom operator, the incumbent POST Luxembourg. He previously served as Chairman of the Luxembourg Filmfund for eleven years.

Before his appointment as director-general of the Media and Communications Department, Jean-Paul Zens was part of the diplomatic service where he was responsible, as part of the Department of International Economic Affairs, for representing Luxembourg’s interests at the international level in the field of media and communications.

Previous to joining the civil service, he was appointed deputy prosecutor after three years of private practice as a lawyer.

Jean-Paul Zens graduated in law and psychology from the University of Strasbourg (France).