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. 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, and a member of the Franco-British Council. Since May 2010, Colonna also chairs the board of governors of the École du Louvre. In December  2010, Colonna decided to join the international financial communications firm Brunswick. Return to the diplomatic service. Colonna was appointed as French Ambassador to Rome on 14 August 2014.