APPOINTMENT: AVITEM welcomes François-Xavier LEGER as Director General
On October 1st, 2024, François-Xavier LEGER joins AVITEM as Director General.
As a diplomat with a 32-year career, he previously held the position of French Ambassador to Fiji, Tonga, Nauru, Tuvalu and Kiribati (2021-2024), in the context of France’s re-engagement in the Pacific, with a specific focus on issues of climate change, economic development, human exchanges, notably through sport, and promoting the integration of the Pacific’s overseas territories into their regional environment.
Previously Ambassador to Nepal (2018 to 2021), in the context of the 70th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations with France, he worked to renew ties and exchanges, concentrating on people and solidarity, on support to French expertise (transport, infrastructure, environment, tourism, etc.) taking into account the specific features of mountain areas.
From 2014 to 2018, as Deputy Director of the Properties and Real Estate Department of the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, his work was marked by major operations to manage, renovate and build the French Government’s building assets, with a focus on ecological and low-carbon standards. He notably worked for the set up of the “Green Embassy” project in the context of COP21.
From 2010 to 2014, as the Deputy Head of the French diplomatic mission in Japan, he took part in the development of bilateral relations in all areas, including in the aftermath of the 2011 earthquake.
As Deputy Consul General of France in Jerusalem from 2006 to 2010, he was responsible for consular assistance to the French community and relations with the Palestinian territories.
From 2003 to 2006, he was in charge of cross-cutting issues relating to peace and security, as special advisor to the Director for Africa and the Indian Ocean at the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs.
From 1999 to 2003, he was Adviser to the political section of the French Embassy in Dakar, particularly in the context of the political changeover following the presidential elections in 2000.
From 1994 to 1999, as First Secretary at the French Embassy in Tokyo, he was in charge of various political topics related to the analysis of Japanese diplomacy.
He began his career in 1992 as an Editor in charge of the Korean peninsula in the Asia-Pacific Department of the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs.
François-Xavier Leger was made Knight of the National Order of Merit and Knight of the National Order of the Legion of Honour.
