Ubifrance, a government agency that helps French companies expand abroad, has a new director for its Atlanta office.

Serge Hanoca, who previously served as the director of energy, environment and industrial equipment in Ubifrance’s Chicago office, took over as director of the Atlanta office in the first week of January.

He has a doctorate degree in external trade from the University of Paris II and has been working with Ubifrance since 2001.

Selected for the position because of his management experience, Mr. Hanoca told GlobalAtlanta that he will oversee a team of four trade attaches that specialize in a number of sectors from publishing to health services. He will also be working with Ubifrance offices in Chicago, San Francisco and Houston to facilitate French business in the U.S.

Ubifrance’s Atlanta office focuses specifically on assisting companies in the service industry, such as Coviva, a French company that provides assisted living services, which is set to open a pilot office in Atlanta this year. The Ubifrance office also focuses on consumer goods and food and spirits sectors.

For more information on Ubifrance, visit, www.consulfrance-atlanta.org.