Born in Jerez de la Frontera (Cádiz) on 28 November 1960. Degree in Law from the University of Sevilla. Joined the Spanish Foreign Service in January 1985. Married and has two daughters.
1985
Started his diplomatic career as Head of Subsection for Pacific and Security Agreements in the General Directorate of Foreign Policy for North-America and Pacific in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
1986 Joined the General Directorate for International Affairs of Security and Disarmament as Head of Subsection for politico-military affairs
1987 Became Director for Atlantic Affairs in the same General Directorate
1988-1993 Posted at the Spanish Delegation at NATO where he was responsible for politico-military matters (DPC, DRC, EWG, NPG, Eurogroup, Alerts Committee etc...) and acted as Spokesman
1993-1995 Appointed Cultural and Cooperation Counsellor at the Spanish Embassy in Brazil
Jun 1995 -Dec 1995 Returned to the General Directorate for International Affairs of Security and Disarmament for the Spanish Presidency of the European Union, to deal with all matters concerning the Security Working Groups of the CFSP (Common Foreign and Security Policy) and of the WEU
Jan 1996
-May 1996 Diplomatic Adviser to the Spanish Minister of Defence
May 1996 -Sep 1999 Director of the Private Office of the NATO Secretary General
Sep 1999 -Jul 2004 Minister Counsellor at the Spanish Embassy in Italy and Governor of Spain at the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
Aug 2004 -Aug 2005 Minister Counsellor at the Spanish Embassy in Morocco
Sep 2005 -Jul 2008 Deputy Director General. European and North American Foreign Policy General Directorate
Aug 2008 -Ago 2010 Director General for United Nations, Global Affairs and Human Rights
Aug 2010 -Jan 2011 Director General for Multilateral Affairs
Feb 2011-May 2014 Ambassador of Spain to the Republic of the Philippines, to the Republic of Palau, to the Republic of the Marshall Islands and to the Federated States of Micronesia
May 2014 Alternate Governor of Spain during the 45th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank.
May 2014 -Jan 2015 Ambassador Permanent Representative of Spain to the OSCE
Feb 2015- Jan 2020 Chief Executive of the European Defence Agency
Feb 2020-Aug 2020 General Directorate for Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Cooperation
Sep 2020- Oct 2024 Airbus
Vice-president, Head of Public Affairs Spain & Strategy Advisor
Oct 2024 Ambassador of Spain to the Hellenic Republic
OTHER PROFESSIONAL AND ACADEMIC POSITIONS
• Member of the Advisory Board of the University Institute for European Studies of San Pablo University CEU (Madrid)
• Elected member of the Academic Advisory Board of the NATO Defence College (Rome) 2006-2008
• Masters Certificate of the Public Management Leadership Program (IESE, Madrid) 2007-2008
• Diploma of 69th course of NATO Defence College in Rome
• Member of the European Leadership Network, since 2020
• Has written several articles on politico-military and defence issues in Spanish periodicals
DECORATIONS
• Spanish Cross of Aeronautical Merit, white distinction.
• Spanish Cross of Naval Merit (first class)
• Commander and Officer of the Spanish Orders of the Civil Merit and of Queen Isabel la Católica
• Commander with degree of the Orders of the Civil Merit and of the Order of Queen Isabel la Católica
• Grand-Officer of the Order of Al-Wissam (Morocco)
• Grand-Officer of the Order of La Stella (Italy)
• Third Degree Knight Commander of Rizal, Order of the Knights of Rizal
• Grand Cross, Order of Sikatuna, gold distinction. Republic of the Philippines