Baker & McKenzie has reshuffled its international executive board with the election of two new members, including the addition of its first-ever Spanish representative to sit on the committee.

Barcelona-based corporate partner Rafael Jimenez-Gusi replaces former London managing partner Russell Lewin as one of the two European-based representatives on the board, which oversees most operational matters for the 3,200-lawyer firm.

Meanwhile, Venezuela-based projects partner Roberto Mendoza has been appointed as the sole South American representative, replacing Mexico-based corporate partner Andres Ochoa-Bunsow.

Both Jimenez-Gusi and Mendoza began their three-year terms on Saturday (14 October).

Bakers has also granted a one-year extension to the current three-year term of Washington DC-based partner Nicholas Coward, who is one of the board's two representatives for North America.

The other members of the eight-strong executive board are: chairman John Conroy; former Paris chief Eric Lasry; Honk Kong-based M&A partner Poh Lee Tan; Sydney-based corporate partner David Jacobs; and Chicago environmental partner David Hackett.

The new appointments follow a management shake-up at Bakers late last year which saw Tan take over as the board member for Asia and Belgian corporate chief Koen Vanhaerents installed as head of the its policy committee.