Pierre Vimont (born 15 June 1949) is a French diplomat who served as the Executive Secretary-General of the
European External Action Service (EEAS) from 2010 until 2015.
His current rank in the French civil service is "Ambassadeur de France", which is properly not a rank but a "dignity" bestowed upon a diplomat for life (unlike the other career ranks which cease to produce effect upon retirement or otherwise leaving the foreign service). He is a senior fellow at
Carnegie Europe.
Early life and education
Vimont holds a
licence
A license (or licence) is an official permission or permit to do, use, or own something (as well as the document of that permission or permit).
A license is granted by a party (licensor) to another party (licensee) as an element of an agreeme ...
in law. He is a graduate of the
Institut d'Études Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po) and the
École nationale d'administration (1977). He speaks
French
French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to France
** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents
** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...
,
English and
Spanish.
Diplomatic career
Vimont's first post was at the French embassy in London, where he served as second secretary from 1977 to 1978 and first secretary from 1978 to 1981. He then served at the Press and Information department in Paris from 1981 to 1985. From 1985 to 1986 he worked at the
EastWest Institute in
New York City. Then he moved back to Europe to become the second councillor at the Permanent Representation of France at the
European Community in
Brussels, from 1986 to 1990.
Vimont subsequently became chief of staff to successive ministers delegate of European affairs
Édith Cresson and
Élisabeth Guigou from 1990 to 1993. He was the director for development and of scientific, technical, and educational cooperation (1993–1996) and subsequently the adjunct general director of cultural, scientific, and technical relations (1996–1997), and the director of European cooperation (1997–1999). From 1999 to 2002 he was the ambassador and permanent representative of France at the European Union in Brussels. From 2002 to 2007 he served as chief of staff to three French Foreign Ministers,
Dominique de Villepin (2002–2004),
Michel Barnier
Michel Barnier (born 9 January 1951) is a French politician who served as the European Commission's Head of Task Force for Relations with the United Kingdom (UK Task Force/UKTF) from 2019 to 2021. He previously served as Chief Negotiator, Task ...
(2004–2005) and
Philippe Douste-Blazy (2005–2007).
In 2007,
President Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Paul Stéphane Sarközy de Nagy-Bocsa (; ; born 28 January 1955) is a French politician who served as President of France from 2007 to 2012.
Born in Paris, he is of Hungarian, Greek Jewish, and French origin. Mayor of Neuilly-sur-Se ...
appointed Vimont to the position of
Ambassador to the United States. On 25 October 2010, he was selected by the
European Union's (EU)
High Representative Catherine Ashton
Catherine Margaret Ashton, Baroness Ashton of Upholland, (born 20 March 1956), is a British Labour politician who served as the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and First Vice President of the Europea ...
to be the first Executive Secretary General of the
European External Action Service, which began operation on 1 December 2010.
Later career
In March 2015 Vimont joined the
European Leadership Network, a group of high-level former and serving officials from across Europe focused on dealing with the foreign and security challenges facing the continent. In May 2015, Vimont became a member of the Foundation Board of the
Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue
The Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD), otherwise known as the Henry Dunant Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, works to prevent and resolve armed conflicts around the world through mediation and discreet diplomacy.
A non-profit organisation bas ...
(HD), a private diplomacy organisation based in Switzerland. In June 2016, he became Chairman of HD's Foundation Board.
Additional roles include the following:
*
Centre for European Reform (CER), Member of the Advisory Board
*
European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), Member
*
European Leadership Network (ELN), Senior Network Member
In June 2015, Vimont was appointed Personal Envoy of the
President of the European Council
The president of the European Council is the person presiding over and driving forward the work of the European Council on the world stage. This institution comprises the college of heads of state or government of EU member states as well as t ...
,
Donald Tusk, to lead preparations for the
Valletta Summit on Migration between EU and African countries. In 2016, he served as France’s Middle East envoy for the Paris peace conference. In 2019, he was appointed as French President
Emmanuel Macron
Emmanuel Macron (; born 21 December 1977) is a French politician who has served as President of France since 2017. ''Ex officio'', he is also one of the two Co-Princes of Andorra. Prior to his presidency, Macron served as Minister of Econ ...
’s Special Envoy for the architecture of security and trust with Russia.
Recognition
Vimont is a knight of the
National Order of Merit An order of merit is conferred by a state, government or royal family on an individual in recognition of military or civil merit.
Order of merit may also refer to:
* FIFA Order of Merit, for significant contribution to association football
* PDC O ...
, and a commander of the National Order of the ''Légion d'Honneur''.
References
The Washington Diplomat Newspaper – Ambassador profile
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vimont, Pierre
1949 births
Living people
Ambassadors of France to the United States
Sciences Po alumni
École nationale d'administration alumni