Past Event

His Excellency Markus Leitner

27 February 2024

We are pleased to be joined by His Excellency Markus Leitner, Ambassador of Switzerland to the United Kingdom, on Tuesday 27th February 2023 for a lunch event at Sophia Gardens. This event is kindly sponsored by Eversheds Sutherland.

Markus Leitner was born in 1966 in Zurich and is a citizen of the City of Zurich. He completed his studies with a degree in Economics at the Zurich University of Applied Science and the University of Fribourg. After various positions in the private sector, he joined the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs in 1996 and undertook his diplomatic training in Berne (1996/97) and Madrid (1997/98). On his return to Berne, he dealt with Swiss financial center issues (e.g. banking secrecy, politically exposed persons, blood diamonds) in the Economics and Finance Division.

From 2002 to 2006 Mr Leitner was responsible for economic and scientific affairs at the Embassy of Switzerland in Pretoria. From 2006 to 2008, he was posted in Santiago de Chile as Deputy Head of Mission. From 2009 to 2010, Mr Leitner headed the Peace Policy Section in Berne and was appointed Deputy Head of the Human Security Division at the beginning of 2011 until mid-2013. In June 2013, Mr Leitner became the Ambassador of Switzerland in Egypt. He was subsequently appointed Ambassador of Switzerland to the Islamic Republic of Iran and assumed the position in August 2017. Since August 2021, Markus Leitner serves as the Swiss Ambassador to the United Kingdom.

Markus Leitner is married and has two children.

This event is open to all who wish to attend .  The event will start at 12pm with a drinks reception, the lecture will be at 12.30-13.15 and the lunch will take place from 13.15 to 14.45.

We do hope you can join us.