Monaco’s Minister of State Christophe Mirmand has unveiled a series of high-level appointments within the Principality’s administration as part of a broader effort to strengthen coordination across government departments and accelerate public sector reform.
The changes, approved by Prince Albert II of Monaco, will officially take effect on May 4, nearly ten months after Mirmand took office as the Principality’s head of government.
Among the key appointments, Marc Vassallo will become Special Adviser to the Minister of State and Delegate for Public Transformation. A long-serving figure within Monaco’s administration, Vassallo has worked within the Government’s General Secretariat since 2007 and has served as Secretary-General of the Government since February 2022.
Holding a doctorate in economics alongside a degree in political science, he will now oversee cross-departmental missions within the administration, with particular focus on modernising the civil service and improving the functioning of the public sector.
Replacing him as Secretary-General of the Government will be Arnaud Hamon, who has led Monaco’s Department of Legal Affairs since 2017.
A specialist in public law and human rights, Hamon holds advanced qualifications in public freedoms, digital law and information systems, in addition to legal accreditation as a practising lawyer. Government officials said his legal expertise and extensive experience within the administration made him a natural choice for the role.
In his new position, Hamon will work closely with Elodie Kheng, Director of Cabinet to the Minister of State since 2024. Both officials previously worked in the private sector before moving into public administration and together bring more than two decades of governmental experience.
Hamon will also be supported by Deputy Secretary-General Antonella Couma, who has worked within the General Secretariat since 2018, alongside a team combining experienced civil servants and younger officials seen as rising talent within the administration.
Meanwhile, Raphaël Simian has been appointed as Monaco’s new Director of Legal Affairs, succeeding Hamon.
A doctor of law and qualified lawyer, Simian previously practised in a legal firm before joining Monaco’s administration in 2015. He later became head of the Litigation Affairs Department, where he gained a reputation for his expertise in legal and administrative matters.
The reshuffle reflects Christophe Mirmand’s stated objective of improving interministerial coordination and strengthening the efficiency of Monaco’s public administration as it implements the policy agenda defined by Prince Albert II.
The appointments also signal a continued emphasis on administrative modernisation, legal expertise and internal restructuring within the Principality’s government at a time of growing institutional and economic challenges.
Featured image courtesy of Direction de la Communication-Manuel Vitali: Marc Vassallo