French President Emmanuel Macron signed a decree appointing an Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the French Republic to Turkmenistan. According to a document published on the country's government website, Alena Grand, the Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs, has been appointed to this post.

The decree, dated 24 July 2026, was signed by Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu and Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot.

Alena Grand is a career diplomat with over 25 years of experience in the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. She began her career in 2001 as a press attaché and translator at the French Embassy in Minsk. From 2004 to 2008, she held the position of Assistant Ambassador at the French Embassy in Windhoek (Namibia), after which she worked for three years in the personnel service of the Ministry in Paris.

From 2011 to 2013, Grand served as an editor at the European Union Directory, and from 2013 to 2017, she served as press counselor at the French Embassy in Romania. From 2017 to 2021, she served as first counselor at the French Embassy in Uzbekistan.

Upon returning to France, Alaina Grand spent several years in senior positions in the ministry's human resources department, including as deputy head and then bureau chief in the career development subdirectory. Since September 2025, she has held the position of commissioner for senior management issues.

The former French Ambassador to Turkmenistan, Philippe Merlin, whose mission in the country lasted three years, addressed his farewell address to his Turkmen colleagues and the French community in the country, thanking them for their support and cooperation throughout his tenure. He wished Alyona Grand success in her new position, expressing confidence that she would receive the same warm welcome and support as he had received.