General Electric (GE) has appointed a new general counsel for Europe, with Hendrik Bourgeois replacing Mark Elborne in the role.

Bourgeois, who was formerly European senior counsel for competition, regulation and government relations at GE, took up his new post earlier this month.

The internal restructuring sees Elborne take on a new non-legal role as national executive for Northern Europe, dealing with strategic issues for the company. Elborne has served as GC for just less than three years, having joined the European arm of GE in May 2006 from GE Insurance in Kansas.