Nigel Sheinwald

His Excellency Sir Nigel Sheinwald GCMG
British Ambassador to the United States
Incumbent
Assumed office October 2007
Prime Minister	Gordon Brown David Cameron
Preceded by	David Manning
British Permanent Representative to the European Union
In office 2000–2003
Preceded by	Sir Stephen Wall
Succeeded by	Sir John Grant
Personal details
Born	26 June 1953 (1953-06-26) (age 58) London, United Kingdom
Alma mater	Balliol College, Oxford
Website	"UK in USA"

Sir Nigel Elton Sheinwald GCMG (born 26 June 1953) is a senior British diplomat, currently HM Ambassador to the United States of America, appointed in October 2007.

In June 2011, the Prime Minister's Office announced that Sir Peter Westmacott, currently HM Ambassador to the French Republic will replace Sir Nigel in January 2012 as British Ambassador to the US.^[1]

Education

Sheinwald was born in London, England, and educated at Harrow County School for Boys and at Balliol College, Oxford.

Career

Sheinwald worked in the Foreign Office on Japan from 1976 to 1977 and Zimbabwe from 1979 to 1981. He served in Moscow from 1978 to 1979 and was Head of the Foreign Office Anglo-Soviet Section from 1981 to 1983. From 1983 to 1987 he worked in the political section of the British Embassy in Washington, D.C. From 1987 to 1989 he was Deputy Head of the Foreign Office's Policy Planning Staff. He was Deputy Head of the Foreign Office's European Union (Internal) Department from 1989 to 1992 and Head of the UK Representations Political and Institutional Section in Brussels from 1993 to 1995.

Sheinwald was Foreign Office Press Secretary from 1995 to 1998 and Europe Director from 1998 to 2000 before serving as the UK Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the European Union from 2000 to 2003. Between 2003 and 2007 he served as Foreign Policy and Defence Adviser under Prime Minister Tony Blair and as Head of the Cabinet Office Defence and Overseas Secretariat. He is credited with successfully negotiating the release of 15 Royal Navy personnel from Iran in 2007. He made a critical breakthrough in the standoff during a call with the head of Iran's supreme national security council, Ali Larijani.^[2] In October 2007 he was appointed Ambassador to the United States.^[3]

Sheinwald was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in 1998^[4], advanced to knighthood as a Knight Commander (KCMG) in 2000,^[5] and promoted to Knight Grand Cross of the same Order (GCMG) in 2011.^[6]

References

1. ^ "Senior Diplomatic Appointments". Number 10. 24 June 2011. http://www.number10.gov.uk/news/latest-news/2011/06/senior-diplomatic-appointments-65056. Retrieved 25 June 2011. 
2. ^ Boston Globe "In surprise move, Iran frees 15 Britons"
3. ^ Foreign & Commonwealth Office "Sir Nigel Sheinwald's bio"
4. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 55354. p. 3. 30 December 1998.
5. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 56070. p. 3. 30 December 2000.
6. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 59808. p. 3. 11 June 2011.

External links

• Unflappable British Envoy Keeps Cool Amid Crises - The Washington Diplomat
• UK Ambassador On The Presidential Race {video} - Boston Globe
• Draw means UK and US ambassadors will split the bill - BBC News

Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Sir David Manning	British Ambassador to the United States 2007–	Succeeded by Incumbent

Persondata
Name	Sheinwald, Nigel
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	26 June 1953
Place of birth	London, United Kingdom
Date of death
Place of death