Philippe Etienne, a graduate of France's prestigious École Normale Supérieure (ENS rue d'Ulm) in mathematics, became a diplomat upon completing his civil service training at ENA in 1980.
He has served in the former Yugoslavia (1981/83), in Moscow (at a time of important changes, 1991/1994, in charge of cultural , scientific and technical cooperation) and was ambassador in Romania (2002/2005) at the end of the accession negotiations of this country to the EU.
He was posted twice in Germany before and after the reunification (in Bonn 1984/1986 and as ambassador to Germany in Berlin 2014/2017) as well as on three occasions at the Permanent Representation of France to the European Union (1988/1991 in charge of the Internal Market, 1997/2002 as deputy Perm Rep as he chaired Coreper I in 2000, and 2009/2014 as Ambassador, Permanent Representative during the Eurozone crisis).
He worked also from Paris on European affairs at different periods. In 2005 he became Director-General (Assistant Secretary) for International Cooperation and Development (ODA) at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, before leading the office of Bernard Kouchner, Minister of European and Foreign affairs until April 2009. Philippe Etienne was the first diplomatic advisor to President Emmanuel Macron and his sherpa, notably during the French G7 Presidency. He then became Ambassador to the United States (2019/2023).
Retired from the diplomatic service in July 2023, he was appointed President of the Mission of the 80th anniversary of the Landings in Normandy and Provence, of the Liberation of France and of the Victory in 1945, which was tasked among other commemorations to organize the international ceremony for the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
He received the honorary title of Ambassador de France in June 2019, and was promoted to the rank of Commander in France's Legion of Honour in 2023.
He was a McGovern Chair visiting professor (European affairs) at SIPA/Columbia University in Spring 2023 and now teaches on Democracy and Geopolitics at his former university (ENS Ulm). He has a number of other activities in the fields of strategic consultancy, media, on boards (Louvre Museum) and is also Vice President of the French American Foundation and President of the Fontainebleau American Art Schools.
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