Career diplomat. 1998-2001, State Secretary (Deputy Foreign Minister); 2001-06, Federal Republic of Germany's Ambassador to the US and 2006-08, to the Court of St James; 2007 represented the European Union in the Troika negotiations on the future of Kosovo; 2008-2022 Chairman, Munich Security Conference (MSC); 2008-2014 Global Head, Public Policy and Economic Research, Allianz SE/Munich; Since 2022 President of the Foundation Council, Munich Security Conference Foundation; Member, Supervisory Board: Allianz Deutschland; Allianz PKV. Member, Advisory Board of Investcorp, London/New York; Supreme Group. Member of the Board, numerous non-profit institutions, including: SIPRI, Stockholm; SWP, Berlin; AICGS, Washington DC; American Academy, Berlin. Professor for Security Policy and Diplomatic Practice at the Hertie School of Governance in Berlin.