Luxembourg has named Yuriko Backes as its new finance minister, replacing former finance minister Pierre Gramegna. She is the first woman to occupy the role.
Backes is formerly the Chief of the Grand Ducal Household. Prior to that, Backes served head of the European Commission’s representative office in Luxembourg, as well as being a diplomatic advisor (known as a “Sherpa”) to prime ministers Jean-Claude Juncker and Xavier Bettel.
These roles follow several years in various diplomatic roles in Luxembourg, Tokyo, New York and Brussels (EU).
Backes graduated from the London School of Economics and holds a master’s degree from London’s school of Oriental and African Arts, as well as a a second master’s degree from the College of Europe, in Bruges.