He joined the United Nations Secretariat in August 1984, and first worked in various functions in Protocol and the Department of General Assembly Affairs.

Subsequently, until April 1996, he served as DPKO Desk Officer for the United Nations operations in the former Yugoslavia (UNPROFOR).

From May 1996 until the end of 1999, he was the Senior Political Adviser of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP).

Subsequently, he worked with the Deputy Secretary-General on the implementation of the "Brahimi Plan" on the reform of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO).

Then, from March 2009 until October 2011, he served as Chief of Staff of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).