At the last EFARD steering committee held in Dublin on 30 October 2006 it was announced by the EFARD Chair that from June 2007 George Rothschild (UK) will take over the EFARD presidency. Rothschild has a strong reputation and visibility in the international arena. The new leadership and management support will help in serving more efficiently and effectively the EU development policy. EFARD will develop its new strategy based on response to the recommendations of the external evaluation. It will build on its strength, i.e. the network among researchers, and will increasingly try to attract other stakeholder groups. It looks forward to a strengthened collaboration with its most prominent stakeholder group, EIARD, in which the EC has a fundamental role.