Born in 1942, Ludovico Ortona became a career diplomat in 1967 after obtaining a law degree. Following his early postings abroad, he worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rome at the Press Office and at the Prime Minister’s Office. After working at Italy’s Embassy to Washington, DC, as Press Counselor, he was nominated Head of the Press Office of the President of the Republic, Francesco Cossiga, where he worked for the entire seven-year mandate. He was appointed Ambassador to Lisbon in 1992, and to Tehran in 1995. He returned to Rome in 2000 as Director General for the Americas. He was appointed Ambassador to Paris in 2005, where he worked until his retirement in March 2009.