Giovanni Castellaneta has served as Italy’s Ambassador to the United States since October 3, 2005. He also serves as Italy’s Ambassador to the Bahamas and Italy’s Permanent Observer to the Organization of American States in Washington, DC.

 

At the beginning of his career, Castellaneta held various positions in Rome, including special assistant to the secretary general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and senior advisor in the Office of Prime Minister Bettino Craxi.

 

He also served at a number of other posts, including Somalia, Portugal, France, and in Switzerland as Deputy Permanent Representative of Italy to International Organizations in Geneva.

 

Castellaneta was vice chairman of the larege industrial conglomerate and defense contractor Finmeccanica and is a member of its board of directors on behalf of the Italian government.

 

In 1989, he was appointed diplomatic advisor to Treasury Minister Giuliano Amato. Subsequently, Minister of Foreign Affairs Gianni De Michelis designated Castellaneta as spokesman and head of the press and communications department until 1992.

 

From 1992 until 1995, Castellaneta was ambassador of Italy to Iran. From 1996 until 1998, he coordinated the international activities of the Italian regions and was special envoy to Albania for the Italian assistance program. From 1998 until 2001, he was ambassador to Australia and the Pacific Islands.

 

From 2001 until 2005, Castellaneta was served as foreign policy advisor to Prime Minister Giuliano Amato and later to Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. Berlusconi also designated him as his personal representative (Sherpa) for the G8 summits.

 

Giovanni Castellaneta CV (PDF)

Italian Ambassador Giovanni Castellaneta and his wife, Lila, at Villa Firenze (Washington Life)