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Senior Diplomatic Appointments

Prime Minister David Cameron has announced a number senior diplomatic appointments.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

The Prime Minister is pleased to confirm the following senior appointments:

  • Sir Peter Ricketts, currently the Prime Minister’s National Security Advisor, to become HM Ambassador to France;
  • Sir Jon Cunliffe, currently the Prime Minister’s Advisor on Europe and Global Issues, to become the UK’s Permanent Representative to the European Union in Brussels;
  • Sir Kim Darroch, currently the UK’s Permanent Representative to the EU, to become the Prime Minister’s National Security Adviser; and
  • Sir Peter Westmacott, currently HM Ambassador France, to become HM Ambassador to Washington.

These changes will take effect from January 2012.

Notes to Editors

These appointments were approved by the Prime Minister and for the appointment of HM Ambassador to Paris and Washington by HM The Queen.

Sir Peter Ricketts has been National Security Adviser since the formation of the Coalition Government in May 2010; before that he was Permanent Under Secretary at the FCO. He has served in Paris before, in the mid 1990s, and his recent career has included a spell as UK Permanent Representative to NATO.

Sir Jon Cunliffe has been the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Europe and Global Issues and the UK’s G20 and G8 Sherpa since July 2007. Before that he was 2nd Permanent Secretary at the Treasury, responsible for the Treasury’s EU and international business and macroeconomic policy. In that role he was also the Treasury’s official representative on the EU’s Economic and Financial Committee and at the G7 and G20.

Sir Kim Darroch has been the UK Permanent Representative to the EU since July 2007. His previous role was EU Adviser to the Prime Minister. Earlier in his career, he headed the Foreign Office Balkans Department during the break-up of Yugoslavia, and served overseas in the British Embassies in Tokyo and Rome.

Sir Peter Westmacott has been the UK’s Ambassador to the French Republic since 2007. Previously he was Ambassador to Turkey in 2002 and FCO Deputy Under Secretary from 2000. Earlier in his career, from 1993 to 1997, he was Counsellor for Political and Public Affairs in Washington, before returning to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as Director, Americas. From 1990 to 1993, he was Deputy Private Secretary to HRH The Prince of Wales.

Information on the National Security Council.

Published 24 June 2011