The European People’s Party has announced a notable change in its internal leadership after Tom Vandenkendelaere resigned Wednesday from his position as the party’s chief of staff, a role he occupied at the EPP’s headquarters. He confirmed the move to POLITICO, and sources say he will leave EPP headquarters at the end of May. Colleagues and outside observers are watching closely because the job he vacates is central to the party’s day-to-day operations and strategic coordination. Two people close to the decision, speaking under the condition of anonymity, said Vandenkendelaere opted to pursue a private-sector opportunity and to spend more time with his family.
Role and immediate consequences
As chief of staff to Manfred Weber, who leads both the pan-European organization and the EPP group in the European Parliament, Vandenkendelaere managed a wide range of operational responsibilities. The post oversees communications, personnel coordination and tactical planning that supports the party’s political agenda across member parties and MEPs. With no successor yet announced, the vacancy creates a temporary gap in the party’s institutional memory and daily management. Internal teams will need to reassign tasks and maintain continuity for upcoming political meetings, policy rollouts and electoral planning, all while senior leadership prepares to identify a replacement.
Succession dynamics
The search for a new chief of staff will test the EPP’s internal selection mechanisms and political balances. Potential candidates may come from within the EPP secretariat, national party delegations or the EPP group in the Parliament, each option carrying different implications for strategic alignment and administrative continuity. Party leadership must weigh experience, trust and cross-border coordination skills when choosing a successor. Meanwhile, interim arrangements are likely to rely on senior aides and department heads. Observers note that the timing of the departure — with Vandenkendelaere leaving at the end of May — compresses the transition window and raises the stakes for ensuring a smooth handover.
Reasons behind the move and new direction
Sources describe Vandenkendelaere’s decision as both professional and personal. He has accepted a position in the private sector, signaling a shift from institutional politics to a different environment where his experience will be valuable. Those familiar with the choice, speaking on background to preserve confidentiality, said he wanted greater flexibility to prioritize family time. Such moves are not uncommon for senior political aides whose skills in policy, negotiation and networking are highly sought after outside public institutions. The transition will allow him to apply his expertise in a new setting while alleviating the pressures that come with high-level political staffing.
What the private-sector transition implies
When senior political advisers move to the private sector, they often bring deep understanding of legislative processes, stakeholder relationships and communications strategy. For the EPP, Vandenkendelaere’s departure means losing a figure who helped translate political priorities into executable plans across borders and institutions. For the private employer, his background offers immediate value in navigating EU-level policy landscapes. The party will have to guard institutional knowledge and ensure that key contacts and ongoing initiatives remain active during the leadership change to prevent any loss of momentum in the run-up to major policy debates and internal meetings.
Broader implications for the EPP and European politics
Beyond the internal personnel question, this change matters because the EPP sits at the center of center-right politics across Europe and in the European Parliament. Leadership stability and operational capacity are essential for coordinating positions among national parties and guiding legislative strategy. A prompt and transparent succession process will reassure allies and staffers, while delays or turbulent internal contests could distract from wider political goals. With Manfred Weber remaining at the helm of both the party and the parliamentary group, the immediate strategic direction is unlikely to shift dramatically, but the new chief of staff will shape implementation and daily rhythms.
In the coming weeks, the EPP’s secretariat and Weber’s office will likely clarify interim management and launch a selection process for a successor. Observers and stakeholders will be paying attention to how quickly the party restores full operational capacity, how responsibilities are redistributed, and what Vandenkendelaere’s move signals about career trajectories between European institutions and the private sector. The story is both a personnel change and a reminder of how interconnected the institutional, political and personal elements are in the corridors of European politics.
