The Board of Directors of Veolia Environnement, a leading water and environmental services group, voted on 17 December last to appoint Esther Koplowitz as a director of the company effective 1 January 2010.

The appointment, made at the proposal of the company chairman, Henri Proglio, is due to Esther Koplowitz's extensive business experience and her in-depth knowledge of the municipal services and environment industry.

Esther Koplowitz is vice-Chair and the principal shareholder of the FCC Group, Vice-Chair of Cementos Portland Valderrivas, and Chair of the Esther Koplowitz Foundation.

Esther Koplowitz, who has had close links with the Veolia Environnement for some years, was a director of the former Compagnie Générale des Eaux in 1998 and of Veolia Environnement from 2000 to 2002.

For some years, Veolia Environnement and FCC have had a joint venture in Latin America: Proactiva Medio Ambiente S.A.