Denmark’s Vestager to Replace EU Antitrust Chief Almunia

Margrethe Vestager, Denmark’s former economy minister who rode her bicycle to meet the Queen when entering government in 2011, is set to become the European Union’s next competition commissioner. She will inherit a logjam of high-profile antitrust cases.

European Commission President Designate Jean-Claude Juncker chose Vestager to take over from Joaquin Almunia, the EU said. The Spaniard, whose term ends Oct. 31, didn’t manage to tie up cases involving Google Inc. and OAO Gazprom as well as JPMorgan Chase & Co. and HSBC Holdings Plc. Vestager will also be responsible for policing illegal state subsidies and reviewing mergers.