Quick Facts
LeoBiography
Peter Wittig (born 11 August 1954) is a German diplomat and has been Germany'sAmbassador to the Court of St. James in the United Kingdom since July 2, 2018, after having served as Ambassador to the United States from April 30, 2014, to June 20, 2018 and Permanent Representative at the United Nations in New York from 2009 to 2014.
Early life and education
Wittig studied at the University of Bonn, the University of Freiburg, University of Kent, and the University of Oxford. He has taught as an assistant professor at the University of Freiburg.
Diplomatic career
After joining the German foreign service in 1982, Wittig served as German ambassador to Lebanon and to Cyprus.
In 2009 Wittig was appointed to serve as Germany's permanent representative to the United Nations. Wittig has served twice as the President of the United Nations Security Council, once in July 2011 and again in September 2012. Between 2011 and 2012, he headed among other committees the Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee.
In 2020, Wittig announced his resignation from the diplomatic service and plans to move into the private sector and academia.
Other activities
- Atlantik-Brücke Foundation, member of the board of trustees
- International Journalists’ Programmes, Arthur F. Burns Fellowship Program, member of the board of trustees (2014–2018)