John Richardson was born in the U.K. and grew up in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. He has masters degrees in chemistry from the University of Cambridge and economics from University College London.

He spent four years as an economist with Unilever before joining the European Commission to work on environmental policy in 1973.

From 1978 to 1996, he occupied various posts in the external relations part of the European Commission, including EU negotiator for trade in services during the Uruguay Round, and Unit Head, first for relations with the U.S., then for relations with Japan. In October 1996, he became deputy head of the Commission’s delegation to the U.S. in Washington, DC and in May 2001 he became ambassador and head of delegation to the United Nations in New York. He maintains an abiding interest in how cultural differences impact world affairs.

In May 2005 he headed the task force for three years which developed the integrated maritime policy for the EU, adopted by the European Council in December 2007.

He left the European Commission after 35 years of service in July 2008, but has retained a keen interest and an extensive network in international affairs. He is chairman of the ESPO award committee and a member of the board of trustees of Sail Training International, and provides consultancy services through FIPRA. He has been a member of the board of the Salzburg Global Seminar for many years.

John Richardson is married to the German broadcaster, Irmtraud Richardson, and has three grown daughters. He lives in Brussels and Provence.