The new director of the GCSP has been appointed yesterday

The new director of the GCSP has been appointed yesterday

The new director of the GCSP has been appointed yesterday

During yesterday’s extraordinary Foundation Council Meeting, the President, Ambassador Jean-David Levitte, and the representatives of the 53 member states and the Canton of Geneva, appointed the new director.

Ambassador Thomas Greminger will succeed Ambassador Christian Dussey as of 1 May 2021.

Ambassador Greminger served as Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) from 2017 to 2020. Previously, Ambassador Greminger served as Deputy Director General of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) at the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. From 2010 to 2015, he served as the Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the OSCE, the United Nations and the International Organizations in Vienna. In 2014, during the Swiss OSCE Chairmanship, he chaired the Permanent Council of the OSCE. From 2004 to 2010, he served as Head of the Human Security Division of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. Ambassador Greminger also served as Deputy Head of the Human Security Division from 2002 to 2004, and from 1999 to 2001 as Chargé d’Affaires and Country Director at the Swiss Embassy in Maputo, Mozambique. From 1992 to 1998, he served in different posts in the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, including Head of the Policy and Research Unit.

Ambassador Thomas Greminger

Ambassador Greminger holds a PhD in history from the University of Zurich. He was Lieutenant Colonel GS of the Swiss Armed Forces. He has authored many publications on security policy, military history, conflict management, peacekeeping, development and human rights. His mother tongue is German and he is fluent in English and French, and has a good working knowledge of Portuguese.

“I am very excited to join GCSP,” said Ambassador Greminger and thanked the President and the members for their trust. “I very much look forward to leading this Center: building on its 25 year history, helping the world to make sense of strange and turbulent times, to manage crises and challenges more effectively, and train future leaders,” he added.

Ambassador Christian Dussey will rejoin the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs after two mandates of 4 years as Director of GCSP.