Catherine ColonnaFrench Ambassador to the UK

Before taking up her position as Ambassador to the United Kingdom in September 2019, Ms. Catherine Colonna was Permanent Representative of France to the OECD (2017-2019). She had previously served as Ambassador of France to Italy as well as to the Republic of San Marino (2014-2017), Managing Partner of the Paris office of the Brunswick Group (2010-2014) and Ambassador, Permanent Delegate of France to UNESCO (2008-2010).

A career diplomat, Ms. Colonna was Minister Delegate for European Affairs from 2005 to 2007 after having served as Spokesperson for the Presidency of the Republic from 1995 to 2004.

A graduate of the Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris (1980), she holds a Master's degree in public law (1977), a Diplôme d'Etudes Approfondies in public law (1978) and is an alumnus of the Ecole Nationale d'Administration ("Solidarité" class, 1981-1983).

She began her diplomatic career in 1983, first at the French Embassy in Washington (1983-1986) and then in charge of European issues and economic law at the Legal Affairs Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1986-1988).

Subsequently, Ms. Colonna served as an advisor to the office of the Minister of State, Minister of Equipment and Housing (1988-1989), as a project manager for European issues at the Center for Analysis and Forecasting of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1989-1990), as a deputy director of the Press Department of the same ministry (1990-1993), and as deputy spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1993-1995) before joining the Elysée Palace.

From 2004 to 2005 she was Director General of the Centre National de la Cinématographie and Vice President of the Cannes Film Festival.

She is an Officer of the Legion of Honor and Officer of the Order of Merit, Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters.

Ms. Colonna was elevated to the dignity of Ambassador of France in November 2020.