Zelenskyy Appoints 32-Year-Old Journalist Head Of Presidential Press Service - Statement

Ukrainian journalist Iuliia Mendel, 32, was appointed on Monday the head of the Ukrainian president's press service after beating almost 4,000 other contenders to the post in a contest, the presidential office said

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 03rd June, 2019) Ukrainian journalist Iuliia Mendel, 32, was appointed on Monday the head of the Ukrainian president's press service after beating almost 4,000 other contenders to the post in a contest, the presidential office said.

"President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointed Iuliia Mendel to the post of his Press Secretary. Respective Decree ... was signed by the President on June 3. She took this office as a result of the competition announced by Volodymyr Zelenskyy on April 30," the presidential office said in a statement, published on its official website.

The newly appointed press secretary, in turn, promised that the presidential press service would try to be open toward media and people.

"If you want changes � make them. I am glad to join Volodymyr Zelenskyy's team. We will do everything possible to be as open to the media and society as we can," Mendel was quoted as saying by the presidential office.

According to the statement, the contenders were assessed based on their relevant professional experience, proficiency both in Ukrainian and English languages, eloquence, political literacy and even sense of humor, among a number of other criteria.

Mendel notably contributed to such prominent western media outlets as Forbes, The New York Times, Politico Europe and Spiegel Online, among others, and worked as a Communications Consultant at the World Bank.