Jesper Kongstad is the current Director General of the Danish Patent and Trademark Office and Chairman of the Administrative Council of the European Patent Organisation. In 2009, he was candidate for the position of President of the European Patent Office, which was to be filled on 1 July 2010. In December 2009, he withdrew his candidacy. Jesper Kongstad was elected as Chairman of the Administrative Council of the European Patent Organisation on June 29, 2010. He took up office on July 1, 2010 for a period of three years, later extended to six years.