| 1974-2012 | Editor-in-Chief of quarterly "Osteuropa-Wirtschaft", Berlin/Munich |
| 1967-1968 | Market Research, Infratest Ostmarkt, Munich |
| 1968-1969 | External Research Associate, East Europe Institute |
| 1970-1997 | Senior Research Associate, East Europe Institute, Munich |
| 1997-2000 | Deputy Director, Southeast Institute, Munich |
| 2001-2007 | Head, Western Balkans, SWP - German Institute for International and Security Affairs, Berlin |
| since 2006 | Associate Professor, University of Bucharest |
| 1971-1972 | General Military Service (18 months), Koblenz/Daaden |
| 1972-1976 | University Degrees in Law and Political Science |
| 1976-1977 | Teaching and Research Fellow, Political Science Department, University of Bonn |
| 1977-1983 | Advisor for Foreign and Security Policy, German Parliament, Bonn |
| 1983-1985 | Desk Officer, NATO/WEU, German Foreign Office, Bonn |
| 1985 | Desk Officer, Conventional Disarmament (MBFR/Stockholm Process), German Foreign Office, Bonn |
| 1985-1987 | Press and Political Officer, German Embassy, Washington, D.C., USA |
| 1987-1990 | Desk Officer, North-South Dialogue/UNCTAD/G 77/OECD, Bonn |
| 1991-1994 | Press spokesman and desk officer at the Political Department, German Embassy, Pretoria/Capetown, South Africa |
| 1994-1997 | Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Baku |
| 1997-2000 | Deputy Director, USA, Canada, Transatlantic Relations and G 8 Department, German Foreign Office, Bonn/Berlin |
| 1999 | Head of the G 8 Foreign Ministers' Team (German G 8 Presidency, 1999), German Foreign Office, Bonn |
| 2000-2002 | Head (Ambassador rank), German Liaison Office, Prishtina, Kosovo |
| 2002-2004 | Ambassador at Large; Special Representative and Head of the Special Task Force for Afghanistan, German Foreign Office, Berlin |
| 2004-2005 | Visiting Diplomat in Residence at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), Berlin (Peace-, Nation- und State-Building Concepts and Instruments) |
| 2005-2006 | Senior Fellow at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs/John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, USA (Peace-, state- and nation-building research and teaching) |
| 2006-2008 | Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina; Permanent Member of the Peace Implementation Council Steering (PIC) Board Ambassadors; Sarajevo |
| 2008 | Decoration with the Golden Cross of Honor of the German Armed Forces |
| 2008-2010 | Ambassador; German Foreign Office's Special Representative and Ambassador at Large for Foreign and Security Policy Related Cooperation with Universities, Foundations and Think Tanks, Berlin |
| since 2010 | Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission; Permanent Mission of the Federal Republic of Germany to the OSCE, Vienna |
