From the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the European Union and embassies, Christian Masset (E78) has worked in the highest levels of foreign affairs for nearly 35 years. Now the French Ambassador to Italy, he tells us about his life working behind the scenes of French diplomacy from the Farnese Palace in Rome.

ESSEC Alumni: How and why did you transition from ESSEC to the world of diplomacy? 

Christian Masset: I discovered I had a calling for public service when I was only in secondary school. I had chosen the preparatory class and ESSEC for the program’s diversity and because of my interest in economic issues. It was excellent preparation for my work as a diplomat, which involves approaching issues from every possible angle. 

EA: Has your management training helped you in your roles as a diplomat?

C. Masset: Without a doubt. ESSEC gave me an international perspective and management skills are essential in any organization. An embassy is like an SME, a large SME. I have served in both Tokyo and in Rome, working with teams of hundreds of people. I have also had the privilege of creating the plan to establish the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during my years as the Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Management skills are increasingly sought-after for diplomacy, particularly in the area of team management.

EA: You were a member of Hubert Védrine's cabinet when he was the Minister of Foreign Affairs. What were your assignments at the time? 

C. Masset: It was a great privilege for me to work alongside Hubert Védrine. I was his technical advisor for European affairs at a pivotal period, between the Treaty of Amsterdam and the Treaty of Nice. The position also covered our bilateral relations with all European countries. I learned a lot. You see how decisions are made, how interministerial initiatives play out, and the preparation that goes into European Council meetings and state visits.

EA: You then created the Directorate General of Global Affairs, Development and Partnerships (DGM) for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs... 

C. Masset: After my time in Brussels as the Deputy Permanent Representative of France to the EU, I had the privilege of being entrusted with the forerunner of this directorate-general. The aim was to improve the organisational structure of our diplomacy in order to address emerging issues – global topics like the climate, world health, international trade reform, and international financial regulations. A white paper on French diplomacy in a globalised world was published to address these issues. One of the conclusions was the need to create a directorate-general capable of combining major negotiations on these issues with our economic diplomacy and our diplomacy of influence. For the climate, for example, the aim was to define a better negotiating strategy and mobilize all our stakeholders, including companies, NGOs, and our cultural and cooperation network in order to achieve an ambitious outcome and ensure that France plays an active role. Now, more than ever, the DGM is playing a leading role in the negotiation of global issues and our cooperation, contributing to France’s action in the G7 and G20.

EA: What was that experience like?

C. Masset: It was an exciting experience. First of all, from a management perspective. We had to create a multidisciplinary team of more than 400 employees with considerable expertise. We recruited many young people who were highly specialised in their fields. Their time at the Directorate-General became a true learning experience for them. On the other hand, the creation of the Directorate-General coincided with the global financial crisis of 2008 and a shift in the economic and political power relations around the world in favour of strong emerging countries. I had the opportunity to witness the creation of the G20 and see a shift in international lines.

EA: You then became an ambassador – first in Japan and later in Italy. I imagine that you had very different experiences in these two countries...

C. Masset: Japan and Italy are two great nations, which are of course very different. However, like France, they are both characterised by their great culture, which facilitates ties. My time in Tokyo corresponded with a unique period, during which the new Japanese prime minister at the time, Shinzo Abe, was seeking to develop a greater international image and build on privileged partnerships. This is how the exceptional partnership came about between France and Japan, during a State visit by the President of the French Republic in 2013. 

EA: Tell us about your experience in Italy. 

C. Masset: Italy is a neighbouring country and founding member of the European Union and the relationship is therefore of a different nature. An ambassador’s role in this context is to promote and enhance all forms of cooperation with this country, which is France’s number two partner in the economic, technological, defence, cultural and academic fields. But the role also involves ensuring that France and Italy work together to form a driving force in the building of Europe. We have many points in common which we must turn into proposals or joint actions at the European level. This is the purpose of the treaty of friendship – the Quirinal Treaty – which was signed last November in Rome.

EA: Regardless of destination, what are the permanent features of an ambassador’s job?

C. Masset: The first characteristic is that ambassadors are the focal point of a relationship between two countries. They represent France to the authorities in the country where they are posted, supporting them in decision-making, looking after the interests of France and the French community, working to promote France’s image and develop cooperation between the two countries in all areas. 

EA: What were the highlights of your service in Japan? 

C. Masset: The visit to areas affected by the tsunami and Fukushima, the President of the Republic’s State visit, and the conclusion of an exceptional partnership, meetings with the emperor, discussions with major Japanese business leaders, and the visit to the cultural paradise of Naoshima. 

EA: And what have been the highlights of your term in Italy so far? 

C. Masset: Political upheaval, the first wave of the pandemic, which hit Italy first and very severely, the Italians’ ability to cope with these hardships, my discovery of the country’s areas of exceptional expertise, meetings with President Mattarella, the Patrouille de France and its Italian counterpart, the Frecce Tricolori flying over Rome for the conclusion of the Quirinal Treaty. 

EA: You were recalled to France in 2019, which does not happen very often. How are Franco-Italian relations now?

C. Masset: This recall came as a salutary shock, one that enabled us to resume the strong cooperation we sought to increase step by step in order to reach an even higher level. We currently have relations of exceptional quality, which have rekindled ambition for the European project, as witnessed in the Next Generation EU. 

EA: Has the COVID-19 crisis affected these relations? 

C. Masset: The pandemic has strengthened our relations by highlighting our interdependence, increasing our solidarity, and leading us to make joint proposals for economic recovery and to develop European health.

EA: What will your next projects be?

C. Masset: In the coming months, I will be completely devoted to two priorities: the implementation of the Quirinal Treaty to further strengthen our bilateral relationship, and the French Presidency of the Council of the EU, which is effective in all European countries during what will be a decisive year in all respects. 

Interview by Louis Armengaud Wurmser (E10), Content Manager at ESSEC Alumni 

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