Christophe Lecourtier, the French ambassador to Morocco, has been officially confirmed as the next Director General of the French Development Agency (AFD). His nomination was proposed by the Élysée Palace in March 2026 and validated by the French Parliament on April 8, 2026.
Lecourtier, 63, is a former head of Business France, the national agency supporting the international development of the French economy. His appointment follows a hearing before the parliamentary committees on foreign affairs and finance.
During his parliamentary hearing, Lecourtier outlined his vision for the AFD, emphasizing the need to align the agency's actions with France's diplomatic and economic priorities. He succeeds Rémy Rioux, who led the AFD for eight years.
The AFD is a key public financial institution that implements France's policy on development and international solidarity, financing projects in over 115 countries.
