BIOGRAPHY

Christian MASSET
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France to Japan
Born January 23, 1957 in Sète (Hérault), Christian Masset graduated from the Institut d'Etudes
Politiques (IEP) of Paris and the Ecole Superieure des Sciences Economiques et Commerciales(ESSEC). He chose the Foreign Ministry after the Ecole Nationale d'Administration (ENA promotion Louise Michel).
He started his career in the Political Affairs Division (1984-1987), then he was appointed First
Secretary in London (1987-1989) before joining the Economic Affairs Division (1989-1991).
First Counselor in Pretoria (1991-1994), then Counsellor at the Permanent Representation ofFrance to the European Union (EU - 1994-1997) he joined the Office of Foreign Minister,Hubert Vedrine, as Adviser (1997-1999).
Minister Counsellor in Italy between 1997 and 2002, he was Deputy Permanent Representativeof France to the European Union between 2002 and 2007.
Appointed Director of Economic and Financial Affairs (DAEF) in 2007, he took the lead of theGeneral Directorate for Global Affairs, Development and Partnerships in 2009 (this new
directorate was formed by the merger of DAEF and the General Division of International
Cooperation and of Development). As such, he served as Chairman of the Board of Directors ofthe Agency for French Teaching Abroad (AEFE - which controls the network of French schools
over the world) and France Cooperation Internationale (FCI - responsible for promoting Frenchtechnical expertise abroad). He is a member of the board of the French Institute.
He was appointed Ambassador of France to Japan by a decree of the Council of Ministers ofFrance, on December, 21st, 2011.
Married with three son, Mr. Masset is a Knight of the Legion of Honor and Knight of the Orderof Merit.

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Date of birth January 23, 1957
Married, 3 children-

Knight of the French National Order of Merit (May 14, 2001)
Knight of the French Order of the Legion d’Honneur (January 30, 2008)

Studies :Graduate from the Ecole Supérieure des Sciences Economiques et Commerciales (1978)
Graduate from the Institut d’Etudes politiques de Paris (Science-Po, 1980)
E N A (Ecole Nationale d’Administration – promotion « Louise Michel » - 1984)
Professional career :- 1984 – 1987 :Nuclear and Space Department
French Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Paris- 1987 – 1989 :French Embassy in London – First Secretary- 1989 – 1991 :Directorate of Economic and Financial AffairsFrench Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Paris- 1991 – 1994 :French Embassy in Pretoria – Deputy Head of Mission- 1994 – 1997 :French Permanent Representation to the European Union in Brussels - Counsellor- 1997 – 1999 :Advisor to the French Minister of Foreign Affairs- 1999 – 2002 :French Embassy in Rome (Quirinal) – Deputy Head of Mission- 2002 – 20007 : French Permanent Representation to the European Union in Brussels –Deputy Permanent Representative- August 21, 2007 :- March 2009

Director of Economic and Financial Affairs
French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs in Paris

Director General for Global Affairs, Development and Partnerships
French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs in Paris- January 6, 2012 : Ambassador of France to Japan