Peter McGovern presents his credentials at Rome ceremony

The new Canadian ambassador to Italy Peter McGovern presented his credentials to the Italian president Giorgio Napolitano at the Quirinal Palace in Rome on 2 October.

McGovern took over from former ambassador James Fox in July. In addition to representing Canada in Italy, McGovern is ambassador to the Republic of S. Marino and the Republic of Albania, High Commissioner to the Republic of Malta and Permanent Representative at the UN's Rome-based Organization for Food and Agriculture (FAO), World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

During his 30-year diplomatic career McGovern has served in Tunisia, Belgium and France, while from 2001 to 2005 he was Consul General of Canada in Milan. From Montréal in the province of Québec, McGovern began his diplomatic career in the Canadian ministry of foreign Affairs in 1982.

Ambassador McGovern is married to Sharon and the couple has one son, D'Arcy. For full details see the Canadian embassy website.