As contractually agreed, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) appoints a Swiss citizen as Director, who acts in accordance with ICRC instructions. Jean-Luc Blondel has held the position of Director since January 2009.
The International Commission has been supervising the work of the ITS since 1955. The commission is made up of government representatives from eleven member states. The commission is responsible for compiling guidelines to govern the work of the ITS, in agreement with the ICRC.