Hassan appointed as director of King’s office

AMMAN – A Royal Decree was issued on Saturday appointing Jafar Hassan as director of His Majesty King Abdullah’s office as of November 15. 

Born in 1968 in Amman, Hassan has a PhD and a master’s degree in political science and international economics from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies at Geneva University in Switzerland. 

He also holds a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University and another in international relations from Boston University. 

Hassan served as minister of planning and international cooperation from December 2009 until April 2013. 

He started his career in the government when he joined the Foreign Ministry in 1991, and held senior positions during his 18-year service in the diplomatic corps and Royal Court including as charge d’affaires and deputy chief of mission in Washington, DC, 2001-2006 and at Jordan’s mission to the UN in Geneva 1995-1999. 

Between 2006 and 2009, he served as director of the international affairs department at the Royal Hashemite Court. 

He is an alumnus of the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, Switzerland (PhD, DES), Harvard University/Kennedy School of Government (MPA), Boston University (MA), American University in Paris (BA) and Harvard Business School (Senior Executive Programme).

Hassan replaced Imad Fakhoury, who resigned on Thursday and was appointed as a senator and chairman of the board of trustees of King Abdullah II Fund for Development.