James Moran is a diplomat and economist, specialising in middle-eastern and Asian affairs. He was the European Union's Ambassador to Egypt from 2012 to 2016. Moran attended Keele, Harvard and London Universities for his education. He subsequently worked in the private sector and the UK government before joining the European Union in 1983. His early assignments in the EU included working in its delegations to Jamaica and Ethiopia. From 1999 to 2002, he led EU delegations in Jordan and Yemen. Returning to Brussels in 2002, he headed the Commission's China division before being appointed Asia Director in 2006.