Catherine Colonna

Catherine Colonna (born 16 April 1956) is a French diplomat and political figure. Since September 2019, she has been the Ambassador of France to the United Kingdom, operating from the Embassy of France, London.

Catherine Colonna
Ambassador of France to the United Kingdom
Assumed office
2 September 2019
PresidentEmmanuel Macron
Preceded byJean-Pierre Jouyet
Ambassador of France to Italy
In office
2014–2017
PresidentFrançois Hollande
Emmanuel Macron
Preceded byAlain Le Roy
Succeeded byChristian Masset
Permanent Representative of France to UNESCO
In office
26 March 2008 – 22 December 2010
Minister for European Affairs
In office
2 June 2005 – 15 May 2007
Prime MinisterDominique de Villepin
Preceded byClaudie Haigneré
Succeeded byJean-Pierre Jouyet
Personal details
Born (1956-04-16) 16 April 1956
Tours, France
Nationality France
Political partyThe Republicans
Alma materUniversity of Tours
Sciences Po
École nationale d'administration

Colonna was the Ambassador of France to Italy between 2014 and 2017.

Early life and education

After studying Law, Colonna successively enrolled at Sciences Po and the École nationale d'administration.

Career in the diplomatic service

In 1983, Colonna opted for a diplomatic career and was appointed at the French embassy in the USA, first in the political department, then in the press and information department.

Upon her return to Paris, Colonna was entrusted with European law at the Legal Affairs Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1986 to 1988. In 1988, she became a technical advisor in Minister of Public Works Maurice Faure's cabinet, under the presidency of François Mitterrand. In 1989, shortly before the fall of the Berlin Wall, she joined the Analysis and Forecasting Centre at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where she was put in charge of European affairs. She later became spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1990, in the department of Communication and Information, a position she kept for five years.

In 1993, Minister of Foreign Affairs Alain Juppé and Cabinet Director Dominique de Villepin named Colonna deputy spokesperson. Two years later, in May 1995, President Jacques Chirac appointed her spokeswoman for the Élysée Palace. For the following nine years, she served as the official voice of the French Republic's Presidency, then left office to work as Director General of the National Center of Cinematography (CNC) in September 2004.

Following the European Constitution referendum Colonna returned to diplomacy, being appointed Minister Delegate for European Affairs in the new government formed by Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin on 2 June 2005. She remained in position for two years, until 15 May 2007. From autumn 2007 until summer 2008, Colonna participated in the Commission on the White Paper on Foreign and European policy of France, led by Alain Juppé.

On 26 March 2008, Colonna was appointed French ambassador to UNESCO.

Career in the private sector

Since May 2008, Colonna is a member of the Fondation Chirac's board of directors,[1] and a member of the Franco-British Council.[2]

Since May 2010, Colonna also chairs the board of governors of the École du Louvre.[3]

In December 2010, Colonna decided to join the international financial communications firm Brunswick.[4]

Return to the diplomatic service

Colonna was appointed as French Ambassador to Rome on 14 August 2014.[5]

Honours

National honours

Foreign honours

References
  1. Fondation Chirac's board of directors
  2. French section of the Franco-British Council Archived 2012-05-01 at the Wayback Machine
  3. Ecole du Louvre, Board of governors
  4. "Nouvelle recrue de poids chez Brunswick Paris", Les Échos
  5. https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/affichTexte.do;jsessionid=?cidTexte=JORFTEXT000029374929&dateTexte=&oldAction=dernierJO&categorieLien=id
  6. "Resolución N° 1212/997". www.impo.com.uy. Retrieved 2020-11-27.
  7. "Le onorificenze della Repubblica Italiana".
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