Jörn Keck joined the European Commission in February 1977 at the EC Delegation in Tokyo and from 1979, was deputy to the Head of the Tokyo Delegation, until 1982. From 1982 to 1987, he was in charge inter alia of multilateral textile issues, and member of the Textiles Surveillance Body of the Multifibre Arrangement, in the Textiles Division of DG I. From 1987 to 1989, Head of Division, Japan Division, in DG I, and from 1989 to 1990, Head of Division, Textiles Division in DG I. From 1990 to 1994, he was Director in the Directorate D, Sectoral Commercial Questions, of DG I. He was then Head of Delegation of the European Commission's Delegation to Japan (DG I A) from 1994 to 1998. He was appointed Deputy-Director General of DG III (a.i. in charge of Directorates C, D, E.) in 1999.