On Wednesday, September 18, 2024, Ambassador Ralf Heckner presented his diplomatic credentials to U.S. President Joseph R. Biden during a formal ceremony held in the White House. This event marks the official beginning of Ambassador Heckner’s tenure as Switzerland’s envoy to the United States of America. He expressed his gratitude for the strong and long-standing partnership between Switzerland and the United States and looks forward to further deepening and expanding the cooperation between both countries.

Ambassador Heckner was born in Davos, Switzerland, in 1967. His career with the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) began in 1997 in the Economic and Financial Affairs Division, followed by a posting at the Swiss Embassy in Rome.

After returning to Berne, he worked on issues related to International Geneva and was a diplomatic desk officer in the FDFA’s Political Affairs Directorate, responsible for coordinating bilateral relations with North America and Northern Europe.

From 2003 to 2007, Ambassador Heckner held positions at the Embassy of Switzerland in Washington, D.C., where his responsibilities included, among others, U.S. foreign policy on Europe, U.S. security policy, and U.S. policy in multilateral institutions. In addition, he implemented Switzerland’s protecting power mandate representing U.S. interests in Iran and worked closely with the U.S. Department of State.

He then became Office Director of Human Rights Policy at the FDFA, where he was in charge of coordinating Switzerland’s human rights policy. Under Ambassador Heckner’s leadership, a multi-stakeholder initiative for an International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers was launched.  This initiative, which was successfully concluded in 2010 and included close collaboration with the U.S. administration, aimed to set high human rights standards for the industry worldwide and to establish external independent mechanisms for effective governance and oversight.

From 2010 to 2012, Ambassador Heckner was Deputy Head of the United Nations and Other International Organizations Division, the Swiss government’s primary interlocutor with the United Nations. Its mission is to develop and conduct a coherent policy in Switzerland’s relations with the United Nations and other international organizations.

As Head of the Crisis Management Center from 2013 to 2015, Ambassador Heckner reported directly to the State Secretary. The Crisis Management Center takes action in emergencies affecting Swiss citizens abroad like natural disasters, wars or internal conflicts, and attacks or kidnappings carried out by terrorists. It is also responsible for the safety of personnel abroad.

From 2015 to 2020, he was Ambassador to Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda, Somalia, and Uganda.  He served as Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON) as well.  During Ambassador Heckner’s tenure, the Framework for the Return of Assets from Corruption and Crime in Kenya (FRACCK) was signed by the governments of Kenya, Switzerland, Jersey, and the UK. It set out best practices in the return of stolen assets, including transparency and accountability, and encouraged the use of returned assets to advance sustainable development and benefit the civilian population.

Ambassador Heckner arrived in Washington, D.C., after completing his service as Ambassador of Switzerland to India and Bhutan. In New Delhi his priorities were the successful negotiation and signing of a Free Trade Agreement and the development of a more strategic innovation relationship with India. He also oversaw Switzerland’s biggest visa center abroad with 200,000 visas administered every year.

Before embarking on his career in the Swiss foreign service, Ambassador Heckner was a research assistant at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland, where he earned his Ph.D. in Contemporary History.

Ambassador Heckner is married to Dr. Ilaria Macconi Heckner. They have two children. He speaks German, Italian, French, and English and also studied Latin.