Nationality : British
Formal title : Baroness Ashton of Upholland, High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy
Age : 53
Education : She studied economics at the University of London.
Previous experience : She worked for several charities dealing with equality issues and for a health authority, went on to herd fussy British lords and was last year sent to Brussels to negotiate banana imports from Latin America and free trade with the United States and China as European trade commissioner.
Reputation : Known as the consummate low-key negotiator.
Personal life : Married to Peter Kellner, a political commentator and president of British polling firm YouGov. She has three stepchildren and two children.
Quote : "Judge me by what I do and I think you'll be pleased and proud of me.
Am I an ego on legs? No, I'm not."
Role : She will be expected to stand toe to toe with China, the United States and emerging powers at international meetings and provide a focal point for the bloc's foreign and security policies as well as contributing to their development. She will also preside over regular meetings of EU foreign ministers as well as be a vice-president of the European Commission, the EU's executive arm. She will control a new 5,000-strong "European External Action Service" diplomatic corps, as well as EU missions worldwide.
Sources: AFP; AP