Change at the top of the Consular Directorate

From 1 May 2014, I will take up my new position as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Ghana, the Republic of Benin and the Republic of Togo based, in Accra. In my long professional career with the FDFA, I will be leaving Berne for a final time after setting up the Consular Directorate from 2010 and leading it for four extremely exciting and intensive years as Director. The contact with the Swiss community abroad was always one of my priorities. The lively exchange with the delegates of the Council of the Swiss Abroad will remain with me as an enriching and stimulating experience; it was the icing on the cake in terms of my position as head of the Consular Directorate. The insights from my many discussions with you will also serve me well in my new position. I am sure that my successor will continue this dialogue and wish him every success and much enjoyment in this exciting role.

On 1 May, I took over the position of Director of the Consular Directorate at the FDFA from Ambassador Gerhard Brügger. I am highly motivated to represent the concerns of the Swiss abroad in performing my duties. I am 49 years of age and married with four children. I previously worked at the FDFA from 1996 to 2002 and from 2006 to 2009. During my studies and professional career, I have spent short and long periods in Spain, France, the USA, Belgium and China. After holding various diplomatic positions, I was most recently head of the Research and Innovation Directorate at SERI. With the support of my highly motivated Consular Directorate team, I look forward to continuing the work of my predecessor on behalf of the Swiss abroad.